Compare towns
Highgate vs Putney vs Underhill 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 oldest population (median age 44).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Putney | Underhill | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,622 |
3,141 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.1±11.4 12% 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Sheldon 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Putney 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Underhill and Highgate 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% 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 | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 | 6 photos → | 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.