Compare towns
Highgate vs Walpole vs Sheldon vs Vernon
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%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Walpole | Sheldon | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
3,690Highest |
2,267Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Vernon 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% |
32.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole and Vernon 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 |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Vernon and Walpole 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. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Walpole 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,191 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Vernon School District |
| 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 |
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.