Compare towns
Sheffield vs Highgate vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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 | Sheffield | Highgate | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 573Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,558Highest 29% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Ryegate 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.