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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 |
913Lowest |
1,586 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.3±8.9 22% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Proctor 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% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6 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% |
28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$75,060±$12kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$206,000±$20kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,059±$200 25% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.4%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Proctor and Highgate 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs 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. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Exeter 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.