Compare towns
Highgate vs Fairfax vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
5,226Highest |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfax 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Fairfax School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.