Compare towns
Highgate vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
3,216 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1%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% |
2.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% 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. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | White Mountains Regional 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 |
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.