Compare towns
Sheldon vs Brunswick 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Brunswick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Brunswick | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
22,336Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brunswick 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% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% 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±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$376,300±$15kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Brunswick 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. |
$4,756Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brunswick 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 | — | #30 of 133 in ME | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brunswick High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.