Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bow vs Enosburgh 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
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 | Bow | Enosburgh | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,804 |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Bow 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Enosburgh 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% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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 about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Enosburgh and Bow 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% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 120 in NH | #26 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bow School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.4 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.