Compare towns
Highgate vs Mount Morris vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Mount Morris has the most affordable homes ($91k median).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Mount Morris | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
3,146 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
35.5±4.3Lowest 9% below U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Mount Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$51,125±$16kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| 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±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$91,200±$14kLowest 73% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$737±$96Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,427Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.2%±31.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mount Morris and Highgate 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
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.

