Compare towns
Sheldon vs Highgate vs Middlebury
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).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Highgate | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
3,528 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| 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%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Middlebury 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% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
| Middlebury 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±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
| Sheldon and Middlebury 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.