Compare towns
Highgate vs Ryegate vs Sheffield
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 most people working from home (14.9%).
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Ryegate | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,059 |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Sheffield 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Sheffield 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Highgate 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 |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Ryegate 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 |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Highest 29% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Ryegate 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.