Compare towns
Enosburgh vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Enosburgh | Highgate | Sheldon | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,804 |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,624 16% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.