Compare towns
Highgate vs Stratton vs Vernon 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 people working from home (14.9%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Stratton | Vernon | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
532Lowest |
2,709 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Vernon 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 VT average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Stratton and Vernon 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Vernon School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | 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.