Compare towns
Waterville vs Proctor vs Highgate vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
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 | Waterville | Proctor | Highgate | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,586 |
3,528Highest |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Waterville and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% 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 | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$206,000±$20k 35% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$948±$45 23% below VT |
| Waterville and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Proctor 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 | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.