Compare towns
Highgate vs Conesville vs Williamstown 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 most renters (19.3% rent).
Conesville has the oldest population (median age 50).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Conesville | Williamstown | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
750Lowest |
3,579Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
50±8.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Conesville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conesville 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Conesville 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 |
$74,000±$14kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Williamstown 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±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$214,300±$31kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| 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 37% below U.S. |
$892±$296Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,500Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Conesville 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.