Compare towns
Williston 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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 | Williston | Fairfield | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,938Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.