Compare towns
Williamstown vs Fairlee vs Highgate vs Troy
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 highest household income ($94k).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Williamstown | Fairlee | Highgate | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,066Lowest |
3,528 |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Fairlee and Troy 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee and Williamstown 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 |
$74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Williamstown and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Highgate and Fairlee 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 |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min 3% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.