Compare towns
Sheldon vs West Fairlee 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).
West Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | West Fairlee | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267 |
711Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| West Fairlee 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% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Highgate 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% |
44.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| West Fairlee 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±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,500±$16kLowest 6% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$237,200±$35kLowest 25% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
| 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 4% above VT |
$1,113±$171 10% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee 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 VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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 |
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.