Compare towns
Highgate vs Sunapee vs Sheldon
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 most people working from home (14.9%).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Sunapee | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
3,416 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sunapee 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. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Sunapee and Sheldon 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. |
$4,400Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sunapee and Highgate 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Sunapee School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.