Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Wolfeboro
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%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% |
2.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolfeboro 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 |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wolfeboro 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. |
$4,531Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Highgate and Wolfeboro 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.