Compare towns
Sheldon vs Waterville vs Putney 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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Waterville | Putney | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
680Lowest |
2,622 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Putney 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Putney 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.