Compare towns
Sheldon vs Jefferson vs Highgate vs Fairfield
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,226Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
25.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 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% |
29% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairfield 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 about the U.S. average |
$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Fairfield 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 18% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Fairfield 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. |
— | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,816Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Highgate 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.