Compare towns
Highgate vs Fairfax vs Troy
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 renters (19.3% rent).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Fairfax | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
5,226Highest |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy and Highgate 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Troy 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Troy 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% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,080±$131Highest 12% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Fairfax and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Troy 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Fairfax School District | Troy School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
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.