Compare towns
Stratton vs Fairlee vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
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 | Stratton | Fairlee | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,066 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 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 | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Stratton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Stratton and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee 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 |
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| 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.