Compare towns
Sheldon vs Enosburgh vs Barnard 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Enosburgh | Barnard | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,804 |
1,211Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard 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 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Barnard 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% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 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 |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Barnard and Highgate 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 |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Highgate 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% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.