Compare towns
Fairfield vs Highgate vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Lowest |
3,528 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Williston 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%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$22k 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.