Compare towns

Springfield vs Highgate vs Proctor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
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.

MeasureSpringfieldHighgateProctor
People
Population
9,084Highest
3,528
1,794Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1.8%
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
44±7.4Highest
about the VT average
42.4±6.4Lowest
about the VT average
Highgate and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±5.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Proctor and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.2%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.4%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.3%
VT: 43.8%
19.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
28.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.6%±1.7Highest
VT: 7%
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
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below VT
$81,017±$14kHighest
about the VT average
$74,167±$12k
9% below VT
Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20kLowest
39% below VT
$280,500±$21kHighest
11% below VT
$209,900±$17k
34% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100
22% below VT
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
$1,029±$202Highest
17% below VT
Proctor and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807Highest
5% below VT
$3,558Lowest
29% below VT
$4,032
20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
37.3%±16.2
VT: 48.4%
Springfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%
VT: 10.1%
8.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
86.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
18 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
16% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
22 minLowest
6% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±5.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Springfield 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 #64 of 70 in VT #43 of 70 in VT —
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70
High school in town Springfield High School Missisquoi Valley Union High School Proctor Junior/Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
9.8
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.