Compare towns
Proctor vs Sheldon vs Highgate 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Proctor has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Sheldon | Highgate | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
2,267 |
3,528Highest |
1,586Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.3±8.9Highest 10% above VT |
| Proctor 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 5% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| 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.