Compare towns
Wallingford vs Highgate vs Fairfield vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Wallingford | Highgate | Fairfield | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,286 |
3,528Highest |
1,938 |
1,368Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,056±$441Highest 14% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Fairfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,355 14% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Whitingham 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.