Compare towns
Highgate vs Bow vs Enosburgh vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Sheldon 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 | Highgate | Bow | Enosburgh | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
8,335Highest |
2,804 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$14k about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Bow and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Enosburgh and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Bow School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Bow High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.