Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Westminster
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,267Lowest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster 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%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% 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±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Westminster 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 |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Westminster 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 |
$4,063Highest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% 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 |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.