Compare towns
Highgate vs Strafford vs Warren 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 renters (19.3% rent).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Strafford | Warren | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,585 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Warren 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Warren 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$86,905±$16k 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Strafford and Warren 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Warren and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Warren 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 |
$7,149 42% above VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Warren 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Strafford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.