What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brookline	Waitsfield
People
Population	531Lowest	1,918Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT	44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average
	Brookline and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Waitsfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Waitsfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	63.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	3.8%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Waitsfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average	$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT
	Waitsfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT	$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT	$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average
	Brookline and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest about the VT average	$6,208Highest 23% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%	47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 21% above VT	25 minLowest 6% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%	19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.