Compare towns
Sheldon vs Minerva vs Troy 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Minerva | Troy | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
836Lowest |
1,749 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Troy 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% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minerva and Troy 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 |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Troy 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. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% 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. |
$784±$102 45% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy 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% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Troy 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 | 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.