Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Fairfield
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%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Fairfield 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield 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 |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield 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 |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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 |
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.