Compare towns
Sheldon vs Marshall vs Highgate vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshall has the highest household income ($101k).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Marshall | Highgate | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
2,163Lowest |
3,528 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
37.5±2.8Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
27.6%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Marshall and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.1%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Marshall and Swanton 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 |
$101,250±$32kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Marshall and Swanton 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. |
$212,400±$18kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Swanton 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. |
$1,039±$151 26% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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. |
$3,595 15% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,449Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.5%±28.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanton 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | WATERVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.