Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheffield vs Highgate 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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
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 | Sheffield | Highgate | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
573Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield 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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$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±$17k 34% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% 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 | $4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Sheffield 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Wolcott 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Wolcott 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.