Compare towns
Highgate vs Castleton vs Fairfield vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Highgate | Castleton | Fairfield | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
4,453Highest |
1,938Lowest |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
| Highgate and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% 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 | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% 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 | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Castleton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Enosburgh 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 10.4Highest |
| 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.