Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bennington vs Highgate vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Highgate | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
15,249Highest |
3,528 |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT |
| Bennington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg 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 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Highgate 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Irasburg 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 3% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT |
| Irasburg 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 14% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
| 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 4% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,063±$86 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Highgate 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.