Compare towns
Richford vs Highgate vs Jay 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
Richford has the most renters (29.6% rent).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Richford | Highgate | Jay | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,467 |
3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
| Jay and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Richford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Richford 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 | $56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,404±$16k 23% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,600±$16k 44% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Richford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,865Highest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
18.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 18% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
9.8 |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.