Compare towns
Sheldon vs Troy vs Union 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 homeowners (89%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Troy | Union | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,749Lowest |
2,663 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Union 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% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Troy 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 |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. 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 18% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Union 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. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Highgate 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
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.