Compare towns
Proctor vs Highgate vs Waterville
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794 |
3,528Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Waterville 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% 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±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.