Compare towns
Highgate vs Plainfield vs Wallingford vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Wallingford | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,314Lowest |
2,286 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Plainfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Wallingford 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Highgate 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±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | 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.