Compare towns

Highgate vs Meredith vs Sheldon vs Troy

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).

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.

MeasureHighgateMeredithSheldonTroy
People
Population
3,528
6,758Highest
2,267
1,749Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±7.4
13% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
44.5±5.7
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.7%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Meredith and Troy 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 U.S. average
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$87,938±$11kHighest
9% above U.S.
Troy and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$280,500±$21k
16% below U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
$233,200±$21kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$691
37% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
$646±$323Lowest
54% below U.S.
Sheldon and Meredith 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.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$3,644
17% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±26.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Troy 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%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±7.2
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith 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 #62 of 120 in NH — —
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Troy School District
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School Inter-Lakes High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
11.1Highest
— —
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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.