Compare towns
Highgate vs Troy vs Fairfield
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%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k 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.
| Measure | Highgate | Troy | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,749Lowest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest 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% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield 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 |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Troy and Fairfield 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 |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
| Fairfield and Highgate 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 |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Troy 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Troy 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 | Troy School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.