Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jefferson 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).
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
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.
| Measure | Sheldon | Jefferson | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,013Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Highgate and Jefferson 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 about the U.S. average |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$4,196Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Highgate and Jefferson 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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.