Compare towns
Calais 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
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Calais | Highgate | Sheldon | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
| Sutton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 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 Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%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 | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
| Calais and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as 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 | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.