Compare towns
Shoreham vs Highgate vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
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 | Shoreham | Highgate | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Shoreham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
| Shoreham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Shoreham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$335 6% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,713 6% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| 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.