Compare towns
Williamstown vs Proctor vs Highgate vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Williamstown | Proctor | Highgate | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,586 |
3,528 |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
31%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 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.