Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Strafford vs Sutton
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 renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Strafford | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,372 |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
| Strafford and Sutton 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%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
— |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.