Compare towns
Williamstown vs West Windsor 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 the youngest population (median age 42).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | West Windsor | Highgate | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,171Lowest |
3,528 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| West Windsor and Highgate 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% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Williamstown 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% |
25.5%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| West Windsor 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% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| West Windsor and Williamstown 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 |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 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 |
28 min 20% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| West Windsor 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | 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 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.