Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Smithville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k 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 | Sheldon | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,525Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithville 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 U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| 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 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.