Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Braintree 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 most kids (23.7% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Castleton | Braintree | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,026Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Braintree 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Braintree 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.