Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Westhampton vs Swanton
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Westhampton has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Westhampton | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,267 |
1,552Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Westhampton 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%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westhampton 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±$14k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,000±$7kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Westhampton and Swanton 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. |
$413,200±$24kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Westhampton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westhampton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Westhampton 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Hampshire · Westhampton | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Hampshire Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.