Compare towns
Charleston vs Highgate vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Charleston | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Charleston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Charleston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$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 | $238,000±$53kLowest 25% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% 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 | $979±$444 21% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Charleston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston 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 | Charleston 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 |
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.