Compare towns
Barnard vs Waitsfield vs Royalton vs Moretown
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).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Moretown has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Waitsfield | Royalton | Moretown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,918 |
2,752Highest |
1,532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
46.8±3.8Highest 9% above VT |
| Moretown 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% |
23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.6 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
18%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Royalton 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Royalton 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 |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$104,423±$7kHighest 29% above VT |
| Moretown and Royalton 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$380,800±$36k 20% 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±$821 about the VT average |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$838±$462Lowest 32% below VT |
| 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,506 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
16.1%±14.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Royalton 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Moretown 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 | — | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | White River Unified School District #79 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.