Compare towns
Highgate vs Plainfield vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh
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 oldest population (median age 44).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Plainfield | Sheldon | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,522 |
2,267Lowest |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9 4% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sheldon 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Enosburgh and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Plainfield School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 10.4Highest |
| 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.