Compare towns
Sheldon vs Cornish 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Cornish | Highgate | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,816Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Fairfield 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. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfield and Cornish 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. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Cornish 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as 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. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Cornish School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| 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.