Compare towns

Sheldon vs Holderness vs Highgate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

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.

MeasureSheldonHoldernessHighgate
People
Population
2,267
1,917Lowest
3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.5
5% above U.S.
39.4±7.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
44±7.4Highest
13% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Holderness 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
U.S.: 35.7%
55.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,533±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$107,863±$45kHighest
34% above U.S.
$81,017±$14k
about the U.S. average
Holderness 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
18% below U.S.
$363,100±$60kHighest
9% above U.S.
$280,500±$21k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379
9% below U.S.
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
$895±$691Lowest
37% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$3,923Highest
26% above U.S.
$3,558Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21.2
U.S.: 51.1%
30.5%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Highgate and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 Holderness School District 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

U.S. 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.