Compare towns
Barre vs Highgate vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | 8,005Highest |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Barre and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 6% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Barre 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.