Compare towns
Sheldon vs Otis 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).
Otis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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.
| Measure | Sheldon | Otis | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,624Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51±3.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Otis 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
28%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Otis 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% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otis and Highgate 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 |
$108,898±$6kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$396,700±$40kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,318±$924Highest 7% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Otis and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,408Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Otis 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% |
1.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Otis 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Farmington River Reg | 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.