Compare towns
Groton vs Highgate vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Shelburne has the shortest commute (25 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 | Groton | Highgate | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 507Lowest |
3,528Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.1±16.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.3±11 29% above U.S. |
| Groton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shelburne and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Shelburne and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,625±$21k 6% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,125±$18kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Shelburne and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $269,000±$45kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$280,200±$45k 16% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,130±$62 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,873Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,801Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±83.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
10%±70.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Groton 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.