Compare towns
Sheldon vs Brunswick vs Highgate vs Fairfield
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Brunswick has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
22,336Highest |
3,528 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest 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. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Fairfield 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% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield 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% |
22.9%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 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% |
30.2% 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% |
3.5%±1.6 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±$14k about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Fairfield and Highgate 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. |
$320,600±$22k 4% 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. |
$1,056±$441 25% 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. |
$4,756 52% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% 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% |
29.2%±20.4 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% |
5.1%Lowest 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% |
88.5% 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. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than 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. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brunswick High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
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.