Compare towns
Proctor vs Highgate vs Jay vs Proctor
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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
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 | Highgate | Jay | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
1,586 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
| Jay and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Proctor 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,059±$200Highest 14% below VT |
| Proctor and Proctor 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 min 5% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | 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.