Compare towns
Sheldon vs Montpelier vs Highgate vs Troy
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).
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Montpelier | Highgate | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
8,014Highest |
3,528 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy 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% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Montpelier 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±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
| Troy and Montpelier 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 |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Montpelier and Sheldon 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier and Troy 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% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.