Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% 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 | Tunbridge | Highgate | Sheldon | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,253Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,645 8% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,675Highest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.