Compare towns
Sheldon vs Lincoln 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).
Lincoln has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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 | Lincoln | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,394Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.7±3.6Highest 6% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Lincoln and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest 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% |
22.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Lincoln 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% |
43.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Lincoln 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±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Lincoln 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±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| 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 29% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln 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 VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln 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 | Lincoln Town School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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 |
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.