Compare towns
Sheldon vs Castleton vs Smithville 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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k median).
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 | Smithville | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,453Highest |
1,525Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Smithville 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 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 |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% 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. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% 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±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Smithville 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest 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 | — | #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 | — | 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 |
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.