Compare towns
Westfield vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Montgomery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Westfield | Highgate | Sheldon | Montgomery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 536Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
1,047 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±19.9 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.1%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$30k 11% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% 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 | $301,400±$47k 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$187Lowest 30% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$868±$209 30% below VT |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,388Highest 13% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,326 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Montgomery 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.