Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jay vs Warren 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 the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Warren has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Warren | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
471Lowest |
1,585 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Warren and Jay 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%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Warren 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% VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Warren 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,905±$16kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Warren 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±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
— | $1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Warren 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Warren 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% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.