Compare towns

Sheldon vs Ogunquit vs Irasburg 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

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Irasburg has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).

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.

MeasureSheldonOgunquitIrasburgHighgate
People
Population
2,267
1,379Lowest
1,384
3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.5
5% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
40.3±5.3Lowest
4% above U.S.
44±7.4
13% above U.S.
Kids under 18
23.7%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.4%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
Irasburg 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%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
23.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Ogunquit and Irasburg 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
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$98,534±$13k
22% above U.S.
$81,017±$14k
about the U.S. average
Ogunquit and Irasburg 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.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$230,800±$22kLowest
31% below U.S.
$280,500±$21k
16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
—
$1,063±$86
25% below U.S.
$895±$691Lowest
37% below U.S.
Sheldon and Irasburg 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.
$4,473Highest
43% above U.S.
$3,966
27% above U.S.
$3,558Lowest
14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
17%±28.2
U.S.: 51.1%
30.5%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Highgate and Irasburg 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%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.7%±2.1Lowest
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 — Lake Region Union Elementary Middle 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
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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.