Compare towns
Sheldon vs Windham 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Lowest |
16,038Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 15% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
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.