Compare towns
Sheldon vs Dummerston vs Berlin 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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% 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 | Dummerston | Berlin | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,090Lowest |
2,880 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Berlin and Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Berlin 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 3% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon 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 |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 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 |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.