Compare towns
Mason vs Waitsfield vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Waitsfield has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Mason | Waitsfield | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451 |
1,918Highest |
1,052Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Surry and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21k 15% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Waitsfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374 38% above U.S. |
| Mason and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mason School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.