Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Highgate 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Sheldon 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Highgate 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield 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±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
| Waitsfield 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±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.