Compare towns
Waterville vs Proctor vs Highgate vs Fletcher
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 most renters (20.1% rent).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Fletcher has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Fletcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,794 |
3,528Highest |
1,196 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
| Waterville and Fletcher 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
| Fletcher and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Fletcher 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Fletcher School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| 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.