Compare towns
Highgate vs Middlesex vs Sheffield vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Sheffield | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,943 |
573Lowest |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Enosburgh 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheffield 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Enosburgh 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 10.4Highest |
| 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.