Compare towns
Sheldon vs Berkshire vs Franklin 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 most homeowners (89%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Berkshire | Franklin | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,745 |
1,590Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire 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% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Berkshire 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 |
$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Franklin 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 |
$244,600±$26kLowest 23% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% 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±$379 4% above VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Highest 29% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Franklin 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% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.