Compare towns
Highgate vs Starksboro vs Sheldon vs Franklin
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 oldest population (median age 44).
Starksboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
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 | Starksboro | Sheldon | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,939 |
2,267 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Starksboro 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% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Starksboro 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 VT average |
$82,188±$15kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Starksboro 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 11% below VT |
$287,700±$42kHighest 9% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Starksboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Starksboro and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Starksboro and Franklin 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.