Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs Sheldon vs Troy
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 the most people working from home (27.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Troy has the oldest population (median age 65.3).
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 | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
471 |
2,267 |
219Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
65.3±26.4Highest 52% above VT |
| Troy and Jay 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
51.1%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7% VT: 43.8% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Troy 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$91,688±$8kHighest 13% above VT |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$187,500±$46kLowest 41% below VT |
| 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 27% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| 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 29% below VT |
$3,588Highest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$2,480Lowest 51% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Jay and Highgate 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1970Lowest 6 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.7%±5.1Lowest 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 | 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 |
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.