Compare towns
Sheldon vs Nelson 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Nelson | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
648Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Sheldon 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson 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 18% below U.S. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Nelson 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. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Nelson 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. |
$5,575Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nelson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Nelson 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 |
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.