Compare towns
Proctor vs Danby vs Highgate vs Fairfield
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).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Danby | Highgate | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
1,133Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Danby and Highgate 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% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Danby and Proctor 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% |
34.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032 20% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Danby 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% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Danby 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.