Compare towns
Sheldon vs Newcomb 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).
Newcomb has the oldest population (median age 59.1).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Newcomb | Proctor | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
490Lowest |
1,794 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1Highest 52% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Newcomb 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% |
9.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 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% |
31.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newcomb 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% |
34.9%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% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Newcomb and Highgate 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. |
$254,800±$47k 23% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% 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. |
— | $1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 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. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$4,032Highest 29% 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% |
37.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 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. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | 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 |
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.