Compare towns
Highgate vs Middlesex vs Sheffield 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 the most renters (19.3% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Middlesex | Sheffield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,943 |
573Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% 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 |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Middlesex 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Middlesex 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% 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% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% 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% |
13%±3.7 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.