Compare towns
Epping vs Fairfield 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
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Epping | Fairfield | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,430Highest |
1,938Lowest |
3,528 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Epping and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Epping and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Epping School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.