Compare towns
Fairfield vs Highgate vs Springfield
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 oldest population (median age 44).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
3,528 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Springfield 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Highgate 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
| Fairfield and Springfield 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Highgate 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.