Compare towns
Highgate vs Middlesex vs Sheldon vs Waterville
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.
| Measure | Highgate | Middlesex | Sheldon | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,943 |
2,267 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Middlesex 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.