Compare towns
Highgate vs Castleton 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
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Castleton | Vernon | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
4,453Highest |
2,709 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
37.9%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% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% 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±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% 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% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.