Compare towns
Barnard vs Waitsfield vs Wilder
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).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,918 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below 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 |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% 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 |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school 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.