Compare towns

Barnard vs Brookline vs Waitsfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Waitsfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureBarnardBrooklineWaitsfield
People
Population
1,211Lowest
5,736Highest
1,918
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.3±5.3Highest
14% above U.S.
Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4
U.S.: 22%
23.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookline and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71kLowest
21% above U.S.
$544,400±$38kHighest
64% above U.S.
$422,400±$92k
27% above U.S.
Brookline and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
Brookline and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Lowest
94% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,208
99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookline and Barnard 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 — #23 of 120 in NH —
School district Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Brookline School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.