Compare towns
Underhill vs Middlesex vs Highgate vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Underhill | Middlesex | Highgate | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
1,943Lowest |
3,528 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.8±3.3 10% 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 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest 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+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairfax and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Fairfax 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.