Compare towns
Sheldon vs Unity 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).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Unity | Proctor | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,375Lowest |
1,794 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%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. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.4±6.4 9% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Highest 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 |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$74,167±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$209,900±$17kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,029±$202 27% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Unity and Sheldon 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,032 29% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% 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% |
94.5%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. |
1982 2 yrs newer 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. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 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 | Unity School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.