Compare towns
White River Junction vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hartford has the most expensive homes ($305k 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 | White River Junction | Highgate | Sheldon | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Hartford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% 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 | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
| Hartford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
| Sheldon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.