Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs Orwell 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 most renters (19.3% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Jay | Orwell | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Jay and Orwell 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Orwell 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 VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| 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±$21k 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 | 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.