Compare towns
Sheldon vs Hancock vs Cornwall 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).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Hancock | Cornwall | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
435Lowest |
1,208 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Cornwall 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% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Cornwall 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% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall 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% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Cornwall 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 |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Cornwall 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 |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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.