Compare towns
Worcester vs Proctor vs Highgate vs Plainfield
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 most people working from home (23.6%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Worcester | Proctor | Highgate | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,794 |
3,528Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Worcester 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Plainfield 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Highgate and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Plainfield 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Lowest |
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.