Compare towns
Fayston vs Berlin vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fayston has the highest household income ($110k).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Waitsfield has the most renters (66.2% rent).
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 | Fayston | Berlin | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,342 |
2,880Highest |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 46.9±3.5Lowest 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fayston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,250±$28kHighest 36% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
| Fayston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $502,400±$82kHighest 59% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$453,100±$98k 43% above VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,689Highest 33% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,688 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.3%±27.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.2%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Fayston 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.