Compare towns
Highgate vs Webster 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
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Webster | Sheldon | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,227Lowest |
2,267 |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
| Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%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% |
3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
| Webster 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 16% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% 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% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%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% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Webster and Highgate 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 | Merrimack Valley 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.