Compare towns
Danby vs Manchester vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Danby | Manchester | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
4,486Highest |
1,918 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
| Manchester and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Manchester and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
| Manchester and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,057±$76 14% below VT |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Manchester and Waitsfield 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.