Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Springfield vs Troy
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 the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Springfield | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,122Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy 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 U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Springfield 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. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Troy 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 |
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.