Compare towns
Sheldon vs Augusta vs Highgate vs Swanton
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%).
Augusta has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Augusta | Highgate | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,851Lowest |
3,528 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.9±3.3 13% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Augusta 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% |
17.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
17.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swanton and Augusta 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 |
$57,852±$10kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Swanton and Highgate 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. |
$147,200±$33kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Highgate 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. |
$806±$209Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,062Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$4,449Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Augusta 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 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.