Compare towns
Highgate vs Enosburgh vs Orange 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 people working from home (14.9%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Enosburgh | Orange | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,804 |
7,573Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Orange 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% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh 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±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$63,828±$17k 21% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% 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. |
$852±$87 40% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Enosburgh and Orange 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% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.4Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.