Compare towns
Sheldon vs Hancock vs Stratton 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 homeowners (89%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Hancock | Stratton | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
435Lowest |
532 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Hancock 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Hancock 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 |
$76,250±$34kLowest 6% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Stratton 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below 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% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Stratton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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.