Compare towns
Whitingham vs Highgate vs Sheldon vs Readsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Whitingham | Highgate | Sheldon | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,368 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
807Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.7±3.9Highest 18% above VT |
| Readsboro and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Readsboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% 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 | $262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$215,500±$52kLowest 32% 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 | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$724±$32 41% 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 | $5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,480Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
17.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 62% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Readsboro School District |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.