Compare towns
Sheldon vs Underhill vs Highgate vs Irasburg
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 homeowners (89%).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Underhill | Highgate | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
3,141 |
3,528Highest |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.3±5.3 6% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Irasburg 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% |
17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Irasburg 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% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Underhill and Irasburg 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 3% below VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT |
| Irasburg and Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$230,800±$22kLowest 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,063±$86 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Irasburg 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| 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 |
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.