Compare towns
Highgate vs North Troy vs Sheldon vs Vernon
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 oldest population (median age 44).
North Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | North Troy | Sheldon | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
506Lowest |
2,267 |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
34.1±4.4Lowest 21% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
31.6%±9.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| North Troy 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% |
16%±6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
16.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Vernon 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 VT average |
$50,417±$5kLowest 38% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$121,100±$20kLowest 62% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$597±$179Lowest 52% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$2,641Lowest 48% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±30.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| North Troy 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% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
63.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±8.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| North Troy 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Vernon School District |
| 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.