Compare towns
Sheldon vs Montgomery vs Franklin 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 homeowners (89%).
Montgomery has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Montgomery | Franklin | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,047Lowest |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Montgomery 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 3% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Montgomery 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 4% above VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$891±$266 28% 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 |
$4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Franklin 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% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.