Compare towns
Vernon vs Fairlee vs Highgate vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Vernon | Fairlee | Highgate | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,066Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Fairlee and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Fairlee and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.