Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bennington vs Fairfield 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bennington has the most renters (25.7% rent).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Bennington | Fairfield | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,588Lowest |
1,938 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Fairfield 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Fairfield 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% |
15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Bennington 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 |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Fairfield and Bennington 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. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Fairfield 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. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Sheldon 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. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Bennington 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.