Compare towns
Highgate vs Mount Tabor vs Castleton 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 people working from home (14.9%).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Mount Tabor | Castleton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
304Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Highgate 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
— | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| 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±$21k 11% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% 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% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | 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.