Compare towns
Highgate vs Worcester vs Brookfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Brookfield has the highest household income ($99k).
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 | Worcester | Brookfield | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
831Lowest |
1,486 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brookfield 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brookfield 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Brookfield 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 11% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Brookfield 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Worcester 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.