Compare towns
Barton vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs North Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
North Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
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 | Barton | Highgate | Sheldon | North Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
506Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
34.1±4.4Lowest 21% 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 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
31.6%±9.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| North Troy and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
16%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
16.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$50,417±$5k 38% 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 | $146,900±$30k 54% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$121,100±$20kLowest 62% 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 | $761±$150 38% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$597±$179Lowest 52% below VT |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,578Highest 29% below VT |
$2,641Lowest 48% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±30.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and North Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±8.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| North Troy and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school 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 | 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.