Compare towns
Putney vs Fair Haven vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Putney | Fair Haven | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Lowest |
2,724 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Putney and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$830±$116 33% below VT |
$895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
| Highgate and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.