Compare towns
Wolcott vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the most renters (20.5% rent).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Wolcott | Highgate | Sheldon | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 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+ | 31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% 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 | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930 22% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Wolcott 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 | Wolcott School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.