Compare towns

Sheldon vs Wheelock 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).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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.

MeasureSheldonWheelockHighgate
People
Population
2,267
717Lowest
3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-1.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
44±7.4
about the VT average
Wheelock 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%
18.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±5.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Wheelock 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%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.2%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
Wheelock 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%
34.9%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%
Wheelock 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
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% 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
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% 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
—
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,578Highest
29% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
$3,558
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
30.5%±11.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Highgate and Sheldon 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%
8.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
8 yrs newer than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1980Lowest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
Work from home
13%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock 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 — — #43 of 70 in VT
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 — Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school 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.