Compare towns
Newfane vs Highgate vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Newfane | Highgate | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,456 |
3,528Highest |
1,066Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Highgate and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Newfane and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Fairlee 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.