Compare towns
Sheldon vs Derby vs Highgate vs Enosburgh
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).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% 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 | Derby | Highgate | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
4,537Highest |
3,528 |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Derby and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Derby 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Highgate and Derby 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 |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Sheldon and Derby 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 |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,624Highest 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Derby 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.