Compare towns
White River Junction vs Fair Haven vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | White River Junction | Fair Haven | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
2,724Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
39.2±7.6 9% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| White River Junction and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.