Compare towns
Highgate vs Bellows Falls vs Enosburgh vs Sheldon
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%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Enosburgh | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,891 |
2,804 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Highgate and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Highgate 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% |
27.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Enosburgh 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 |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% 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 |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% 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 |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Bellows Falls 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 |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Bellows Falls 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% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
— |
| 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.