Compare towns
Barnard vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Strafford | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,372 |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 20% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Strafford 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±$71kLowest 27% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Strafford and Waitsfield 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,200±$821 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 | $6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | Strafford 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 |
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.