Compare towns
Sheldon vs Plainfield vs Highgate vs Swanton
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Highgate | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
2,522 |
3,528 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5 12% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Swanton 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sheldon 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #43 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Plainfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.