Compare towns
Highgate vs Pelham vs Sheldon vs Williamstown
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 renters (19.3% rent).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Pelham | Sheldon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
14,449Highest |
2,267Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Williamstown 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 |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Pelham 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. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Pelham School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Pelham High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.4Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.