Compare towns
Wheelock vs Highgate vs Wells vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
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 | Wheelock | Highgate | Wells | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
3,528Highest |
1,148 |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
| Wells and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 42% below VT |
$3,558Highest 29% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.