Compare towns
Sheldon vs Williston vs Irasburg 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 homeowners (89%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Irasburg has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Highgate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
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 | Williston | Irasburg | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
10,144Highest |
1,384Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Irasburg 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 3% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$98,534±$13k 21% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Williston and Irasburg 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$230,800±$22kLowest 27% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,063±$86 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Highgate 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | 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.