Compare towns
Sheldon vs Amity vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Amity has the most affordable homes ($87k median).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Sheldon | Amity | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
2,407 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
37.8±5.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amity and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Amity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amity and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$61,042±$10kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$87,300±$7kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$705±$59Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,541Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest 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 |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | GENESEE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.