Compare towns
Highgate vs Peacham 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
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Peacham | Sheldon | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
887Lowest |
2,267 |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Peacham 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% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Peacham 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% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Vernon 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 |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Peacham and Vernon 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 |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Peacham and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Peacham 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 |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham 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 | Peacham School District | 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 |
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.