Compare towns
Barnard vs Hartford vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 74.8).
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 | Barnard | Hartford | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
10,736Highest |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
| Barnard and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
— |
| Barnard and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$4,688Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hartford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.