Compare towns
Highgate vs Ludlow 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
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 | Ludlow | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
808Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Ludlow and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% 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 |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ludlow and Highgate 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 |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Ludlow 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 |
$4,237Highest 16% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 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.