Compare towns
Waterville vs Highgate vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 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 | Waterville | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.