Compare towns
Middlesex vs Highgate vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Middlesex | Highgate | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Middlesex and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Highgate 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 |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.