Compare towns
Highgate vs Hampton vs Fair Haven vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Fair Haven has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Hampton | Fair Haven | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,145Lowest |
2,724 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven 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 U.S. average |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown 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±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | 12.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.