Compare towns
Highgate vs Ogunquit vs Sheldon vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Swanton has the shortest commute (23 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 | Ogunquit | Sheldon | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,379Lowest |
2,267 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit and Swanton 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 |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Swanton 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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. |
$4,473Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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 |
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.