Compare towns
Ryegate vs Highgate vs Proctor vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Ryegate | Highgate | Proctor | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,794 |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% 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 | $219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Highgate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 26% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Proctor and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 27 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Barnet 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.