Compare towns
Highgate vs Fairfield vs Swanton
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%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% 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 | Fairfield | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,938Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Swanton 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 |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Fairfield and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton and Highgate 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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 | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.