Compare towns
Sheldon vs Becket 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Becket | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,962Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Becket and Highgate 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% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
21.3%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Becket 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% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Becket 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±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,417±$29k about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Becket and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Becket and Sheldon 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. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Highgate 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Becket 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 | Central Berkshire | 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.