Compare towns
Vernon vs Sheldon vs Brattleboro vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Vernon | Sheldon | Brattleboro | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
2,267Lowest |
12,122Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Brattleboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.