Compare towns
Highgate vs Nanticoke 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%).
Nanticoke has the most affordable homes ($157k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Nanticoke | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,683Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±6.4 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Nanticoke 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% |
25.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nanticoke and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nanticoke 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$69,432±$13kLowest 14% 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. |
$157,100±$32kLowest 53% 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±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$941±$314 33% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Nanticoke 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. |
$3,171Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±37.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nanticoke 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% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5%±4.9Lowest 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.