Compare towns
Westford 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
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Westford | Highgate | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,290Lowest |
3,528 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Westford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Westford and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$378,200±$22k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,497 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.8%±31Lowest 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 | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Westford 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 | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Fairfax School District |
| High school 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 | 6 photos → | 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.