Compare towns
Springfield vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Charlestown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Springfield | Highgate | Sheldon | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±8.5 7% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlestown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$47,338±$23kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$228,000±$62k 31% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,099±$85 22% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,143Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.