Compare towns
Sheldon vs Oakham vs Highgate vs Proctor
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).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Oakham | Highgate | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,639Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
| Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.4 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% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Proctor and Highgate 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Oakham 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. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Oakham 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. |
$4,103Highest 32% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | Quabbin | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.