Compare towns
Proctor vs Castleton vs Highgate vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Proctor | Castleton | Highgate | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
4,453Highest |
3,528 |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.3±5.3 6% below VT |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT |
| Irasburg and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,063±$86 14% below VT |
| Castleton and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.