Compare towns
Mapleton vs Northfield vs Waitsfield vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Union has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Northfield | Waitsfield | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,918 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield and Union 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.