Compare towns
Highgate vs Barre vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
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 | Highgate | Barre | Sheldon | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
8,412Highest |
2,267Lowest |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— | 10.4 |
| 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.