Compare towns
Highgate vs Calais 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 oldest population (median age 44).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Calais | Enosburgh | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,804 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Highgate and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Calais 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% |
55.4%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% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais 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 VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Calais and Sheldon 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above 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% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Enosburgh 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.