Compare towns
Brookfield vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Brookfield | Highgate | Sheldon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Brookfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
| Brookfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sutton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.