Compare towns
Highgate vs West Fairlee vs Enosburgh vs Wallingford
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%).
West Fairlee has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% under 18).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | West Fairlee | Enosburgh | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
711Lowest |
2,804 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
50.3±7.6Highest 17% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| West Fairlee and Wallingford 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% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh and Wallingford 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% |
29.7%±6.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| West Fairlee and Wallingford 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% |
44.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$76,500±$16k 6% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Highgate and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$237,200±$35k 25% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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 |
$1,113±$171Highest 10% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| West Fairlee 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 |
$5,210Highest 3% above VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
50%±89.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| West Fairlee and Enosburgh 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.