Compare towns
Highgate vs Ryegate vs Sheffield vs Vernon
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 the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,059 |
573Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest 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 |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.6% 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% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Sheffield 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 |
$3,472 31% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest 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 |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below 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% |
6.4%±3.1 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Vernon School District |
| 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.