Compare towns
Barnard vs Mason 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 youngest population (median age 42.4).
Mason has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Mason | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,451 |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Barnard 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% |
15.6%±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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Mason and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| 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±$80 about the U.S. average |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | Mason 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 |
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.