Compare towns
Sheldon vs Exeter vs Proctor vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Sheldon | Exeter | Proctor | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
16,151Highest |
1,794Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.7Lowest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.