Compare towns
Benson vs Enosburgh 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
Benson has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Benson | Enosburgh | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 271Lowest |
2,804 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Benson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13k 14% below U.S. |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,624Highest 16% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Enosburgh and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.