Compare towns
Barnard vs Jay 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 highest household income ($98k).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Jay | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
471Lowest |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Jay and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Barnard 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Barnard and Waitsfield 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% 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 |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 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.