Compare towns
Colrain vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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 | Colrain | Highgate | Sheldon | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Oakham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | Mohawk Trail | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Quabbin |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.