Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Highgate vs Swanton vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Fair Haven | Highgate | Swanton | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
3,528Highest |
2,670 |
1,145Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$66,607±$27k 17% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,238±$103 12% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$4,370Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Hampton 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.