Compare towns
Sheldon vs Cabot vs Sutton 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Cabot | Sutton | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,579 |
790Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Sutton and Highgate 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%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot 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% |
21%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Sutton 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 VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Sutton 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 |
$77,031±$16k 5% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT 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 14% below VT |
$268,500±$77k 15% below VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% 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±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,243±$354 about the VT average |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,639Highest 8% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Cabot and Sutton 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% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Cabot 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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 History | 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.