Compare towns
Williamstown vs Worcester vs Highgate vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Worcester | Highgate | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
831Lowest |
3,528 |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Worcester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Williamstown and Highgate 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Highgate and Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Fair Haven 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.8 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.