Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Braintree vs Williamstown
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 expensive homes ($281k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Sheldon | Braintree | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,267 |
1,026Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown 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±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Braintree 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.