Compare towns
Fairfax vs Highgate vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Fairfax | Highgate | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,226Highest |
3,528 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Fairfax and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Fairfax School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.