Compare towns
Williamstown vs Fairfield vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Williamstown | Fairfield | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,938Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% 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 | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Williamstown and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.