Compare towns

Highgate vs Hampton vs Fairfield

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 people working from home (14.9%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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.

MeasureHighgateHamptonFairfield
People
Population
3,528Highest
1,145Lowest
1,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44±7.4Highest
13% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
42.3±2.7Lowest
9% 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%
25.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Fairfield and Hampton 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%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
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%
30.2%Highest
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%
3.5%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairfield and Hampton 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±$8kLowest
9% below U.S.
$87,019±$22kHighest
8% above U.S.
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
16% below U.S.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$320,600±$22kHighest
4% below U.S.
Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$691Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$1,056±$441
25% below U.S.
Hampton and Fairfield 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.
$4,816Highest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
29.2%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Highgate and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Highgate and Hampton 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 — —
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 — Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.