Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
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 | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,267Lowest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
20.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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 VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| 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 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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 |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest 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 | — |
| 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 Our Story | 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.