Compare towns
Highgate vs Fairfield vs Vernon 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%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Highgate | Fairfield | Vernon | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,938Lowest |
2,709 |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Fairfield and Vernon 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
| Fairfield and Vernon 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 |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Fairfield and Vernon 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 |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Vernon School District | 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 Our Story | 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.