Compare towns
Proctor vs Highgate vs Montgomery vs Wolcott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Montgomery | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
3,528Highest |
1,047Lowest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% 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±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Montgomery 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Wolcott 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% |
15.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.