Compare towns
Fairlee vs Highgate vs Lemington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the most renters (42.5% rent).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Lemington has the most affordable homes ($138k 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 | Fairlee | Highgate | Lemington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54Lowest |
3,528Highest |
108 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.8±22.6 25% above VT |
| Fairlee and Lemington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±21.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lemington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
35.2%±23.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Lemington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
31.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±26.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±9.7 VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Lemington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$55,000±$42k 32% below VT |
| Highgate and Lemington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,500±$28k 12% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$138,400±$14kLowest 56% below VT |
| Highgate and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$620Highest 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— |
| Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$2,365Lowest 53% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
1.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | — | 31 minLowest 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 57% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.2%±12.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee and Lemington 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| 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.