Compare towns
Sheldon vs Wells 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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
11,713Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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 |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Wells 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±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Wells and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.