Compare towns
Sheldon vs Benson vs Enosburgh vs Highgate
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Benson | Enosburgh | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
784Lowest |
2,804 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Benson 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Enosburgh 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 |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Benson 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% 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 |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Benson 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 |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4Highest |
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.