Compare towns
Hartford vs Barnard vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Waitsfield has the oldest population (median age 74.8).
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 | Hartford | Barnard | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
1,211 |
193Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
| Barnard and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$453,100±$98kHighest 43% 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 | $1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
— |
| Barnard and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773 15% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,688Lowest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Hartford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 22% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
14 minLowest 40% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.