Compare towns
Williamstown vs Sheldon 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
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Sheldon | Highgate | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
2,267 |
3,528 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest 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+ | 17.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.