Compare towns
Highgate vs Newfane vs Sheldon vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Newfane | Sheldon | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,456 |
2,267 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Newfane 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 VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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 11% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Highgate 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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.