Compare towns
Sheldon vs Lancaster 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 homeowners (89%).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Lancaster | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,230Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.6%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Lancaster 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% |
23.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lancaster 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 |
$66,765±$20kLowest 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±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 9% below U.S. |
$1,036±$221 27% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Lancaster 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. |
$4,225Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #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.