Compare towns
Barnet vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Pittsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Pittsford has the most affordable homes ($197k 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 | Barnet | Highgate | Sheldon | Pittsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
2,892 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.7±6.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Pittsford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$69,705±$7k 14% 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 | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$197,000±$33kLowest 38% 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 | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Highest 11% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
18.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Highgate 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Barnet 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 | — | #54 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.