Compare towns
Highgate vs Braintree vs Vernon vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Vernon | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,026Lowest |
2,709 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 VT average |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Vernon 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Highgate 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% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Vernon School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | 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.