Compare towns

Enosburgh vs Highgate vs Middlebury vs Sheldon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureEnosburghHighgateMiddleburySheldon
People
Population
2,804
3,528
9,175Highest
2,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-1.8%
VT: +2.8%
+7.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.6±3.9
6% below VT
44±7.4Highest
about the VT average
31.8±3.7Lowest
26% below VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
11.6%±1.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
22.2%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Highgate and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.1%
VT: 43.8%
19.5%
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.4
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
32.6%±1.1Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$63,828±$17kLowest
21% below VT
$81,017±$14k
about the VT average
$86,169±$16kHighest
6% above VT
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
Middlebury and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$223,100±$39kLowest
30% below VT
$280,500±$21k
11% below VT
$409,700±$30kHighest
29% above VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$852±$87Lowest
31% below VT
$895±$691
27% below VT
$1,156±$113
6% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
Sheldon and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,624
28% below VT
$3,558Lowest
29% below VT
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$3,578
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±11.2
VT: 48.4%
30.5%±11.3
VT: 48.4%
50.9%±14.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Middlebury and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
10.7%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.7%
VT: 73.2%
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
65.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
36% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
16 minLowest
33% below VT
25 min
7% above VT
Work from home
10.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Middlebury 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 #26 of 70 in VT #43 of 70 in VT #17 of 70 in VT —
School district Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town Enosburg Falls Middle/High School Missisquoi Valley Union High School Middlebury Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4
9.8Lowest
12.6Highest
—
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.