Compare towns
Barre vs Highgate vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Barre | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Highest |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5 13% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713 27% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Quabbin | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.