Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Wells
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
11,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Wells and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.