Compare towns
Sheldon vs Kingston 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).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Highgate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
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 | Kingston | Highgate | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
6,275Highest |
3,528 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% 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. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42.3±2.7 9% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest 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% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston 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% |
35.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kingston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$105,330±$12kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$22k 8% above U.S. |
| Kingston and Fairfield 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. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$320,600±$22k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156Highest about the U.S. average |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,056±$441 25% below U.S. |
| Kingston and Sheldon 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. |
$7,906Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,816 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Kingston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% 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% |
15.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kingston 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 | — | #78 of 120 in NH | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Sanborn Regional School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.