Compare towns
Barnard vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
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 | Salisbury | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,200Lowest |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Waitsfield 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest 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±$19k 20% above VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 27% above VT |
$306,900±$51kLowest 3% 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±$80 11% above VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Salisbury and Barnard 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 |
$4,842Lowest 4% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Salisbury 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% |
4.6% VT: 10.1% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
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.