Compare towns
Highgate vs Poultney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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 | Poultney | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,033Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Poultney 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% |
38.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,578Highest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Poultney 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% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.