Compare towns
Sheldon vs Wayne vs Highgate vs Troy
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Wayne | Highgate | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
1,033Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Troy 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. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% 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. |
$1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wayne 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. |
$3,967Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wayne 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
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| 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.