Compare towns
Highgate vs Dover vs Sheldon vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% rent).
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 | Dover | Sheldon | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,466Lowest |
2,267 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Swanton 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Dover and Swanton 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Swanton 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.