Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Springfield vs Vernon
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 oldest population (median age 44).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield and Vernon 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Vernon 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Sheldon and Vernon 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Highgate 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.