Compare towns
Vershire vs Sutton vs Highgate vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Vershire | Sutton | Highgate | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 842 |
790Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Highgate and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Highgate and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,117±$80 9% below VT |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,640Highest 8% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Chelsea 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 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| 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 | 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.