Compare towns
Highgate vs Otis vs Sheldon vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Otis | Sheldon | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,624Lowest |
2,267 |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis and Vernon 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% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vernon and Otis 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 |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
| Otis and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,191Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis 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 | Farmington River Reg | 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 | 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.