Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dover vs Highgate vs Irasburg
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 homeowners (89%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Irasburg has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
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 | Dover | Highgate | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
33,364Highest |
3,528 |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.3±5.3 4% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Irasburg 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% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Irasburg 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% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Irasburg 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 |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$98,534±$13kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Irasburg and Dover 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. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$230,800±$22kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,063±$86 25% below U.S. |
| Dover and Sheldon 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,966 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
17%±28.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Dover School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.