Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Fair Haven | Highgate | Sheldon | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
3,528Highest |
2,267Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.