Compare towns
Highgate vs Hampton vs Castleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 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 | Hampton | Castleton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,145Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Hampton 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Castleton 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% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% 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±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | 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 |
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.