Compare towns
Sheldon vs Bristol 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 most homeowners (89%).
Bristol has the most renters (30.3% rent).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Bristol | Enosburgh | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
3,273 |
2,804 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Bristol 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% |
24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol 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% |
23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Bristol 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 |
$78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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. |
$258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 9% below U.S. |
$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| Bristol 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. |
$4,162Highest 33% 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% |
46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Enosburgh and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% 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% |
69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older 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. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | #26 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Newfound Area School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
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.