Compare towns
Highgate vs Randolph vs Sheldon vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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 | Randolph | Sheldon | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
4,843Highest |
2,267 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Windham and Highgate 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% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Windham 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% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Randolph 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% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham 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 |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Randolph 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 |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Windham 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.