Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jay vs Hardwick 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
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 | Jay | Hardwick | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
471Lowest |
2,965 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Hardwick 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Hardwick 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Hardwick 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Hardwick 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% 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±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.