Compare towns
Sheldon vs Plainfield vs Troy vs Highgate
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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Troy | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,314Lowest |
1,749 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Troy 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Troy 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Troy 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±$61k 14% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 4% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest 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 |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Troy 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 | 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.