Compare towns
Fairlee vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Fairlee | Highgate | Sheldon | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 |
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.