Compare towns

Highgate vs Exeter vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh

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%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).

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.

MeasureHighgateExeterSheldonEnosburgh
People
Population
3,528Highest
913Lowest
2,267
2,804
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±7.4
13% above U.S.
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
40.9±3.5
5% above U.S.
40.6±3.9Lowest
4% above U.S.
Exeter and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±7.1
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Exeter 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%
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.9%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter 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%
28.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.4Highest
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
$77,550±$19k
4% below U.S.
$78,533±$25k
about the U.S. average
$63,828±$17kLowest
21% below U.S.
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.
$243,000±$89k
27% below U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
$223,100±$39kLowest
33% 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.
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
$852±$87Lowest
40% 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
$3,558
14% above U.S.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$3,624Highest
16% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±11.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Enosburgh and Highgate 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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
32 minHighest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Highgate and Exeter 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
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School — None in town Enosburg Falls Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
— —
10.4Highest
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.