Compare towns
Worcester vs Highgate vs Proctor vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Worcester | Highgate | Proctor | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,794 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 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+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| 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.