Compare towns
Sheldon vs Fletcher vs Fairfield 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Fletcher | Fairfield | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,196Lowest |
1,938 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Fletcher 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 VT: 17.9% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Fletcher 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% |
32.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| 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 3% below VT |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Fletcher 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 14% below VT |
$302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Fairfield and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Fletcher 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 |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fletcher 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fletcher School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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.