Compare towns
Sheldon vs Highgate vs Williamstown vs Troy
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 most people working from home (14.9%).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
Troy has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Williamstown | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Troy 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% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Troy 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Williamstown and Troy 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841Highest 24% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Troy 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.