Compare towns
Highgate vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Nelson | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
648Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$14k about the U.S. average |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Highgate 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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Nelson School District | 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 |
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.