Compare towns
Fairfield vs Highgate vs Jay vs Proctor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Fairfield | Highgate | Jay | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Jay and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,029±$202 17% below VT |
| Fairfield and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Proctor 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.