Compare towns
Highgate vs Springfield vs Weathersfield vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Weathersfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 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 | Springfield | Weathersfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
9,084Highest |
2,856 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
48.3±5.4Highest 12% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Weathersfield 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Weathersfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Weathersfield and Springfield 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% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
8.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$83,095±$12kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Weathersfield 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±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$252,700±$50k 20% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,401±$61Highest 14% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Weathersfield and Sheldon 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,540 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
80.3%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Weathersfield and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±14.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Weathersfield and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #21 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Weathersfield School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.