Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheffield vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh
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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Sheffield | Sheldon | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
573Lowest |
2,267 |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42±8 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Sheffield 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% |
27.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Enosburgh 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 |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% 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 |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,624Highest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Enosburgh 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 10.4Highest |
| 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.