Compare towns
Sheldon vs Strafford vs Sutton 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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Sutton 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.
| Measure | Sheldon | Strafford | Sutton | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,372 |
790Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Sutton 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.