Compare towns
Brighton vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Barton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Sheldon | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Brighton and Highgate 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest 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±$21k 42% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% 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±$39k 48% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% 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±$33 37% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% 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 | $3,360 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,578Highest 29% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | 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 | 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.