Compare towns
Brighton vs Highgate vs Jay vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Brighton | Highgate | Jay | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Jay and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% 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 | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% 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 | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Highgate 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 | — | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.