Compare towns
Highgate vs Cornwall 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
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Cornwall | Vernon | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,208Lowest |
2,709 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Vernon 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% |
54.7%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% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cornwall and Vernon 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Cornwall and Vernon 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Cornwall 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.