Compare towns
Highgate vs Nelson vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh
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 the oldest population (median age 44).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Nelson | Sheldon | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
648Lowest |
2,267 |
2,804 |
| 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±3.5 5% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% 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% |
21%±4.2 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% |
17.9%±3.3 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% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Highgate 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±$25k about the U.S. average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| 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±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% 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±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% 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. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Enosburgh and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Nelson School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.