Compare towns
Sheldon vs Ludlow vs Proctor vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Ludlow | Proctor | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
808Lowest |
1,794 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Ludlow 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 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 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+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Ludlow 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 3% below VT |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT 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 14% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Ludlow and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% 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 | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | 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.