Compare towns
Arlington vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Arlington | Highgate | Sheldon | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,598 |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Fairfax and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Sheldon and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Fairfax 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Arlington School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.