Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton vs Highgate vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Dover | Hampton | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
1,145Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Dover and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dover and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Dover and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | 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 |
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.