Compare towns
Highgate vs Orange vs Troy 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 the most people working from home (14.9%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Orange | Troy | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
7,573Highest |
1,749Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Orange 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% |
15.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Troy 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±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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. |
$775±$233 45% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orange and Troy 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Troy School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.