Compare towns
Sheldon vs Proctor vs Williston 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).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Proctor | Williston | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,794Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Williston 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Williston 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 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | 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.