Compare towns

Mason vs Waitsfield vs Webster

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).

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.

MeasureMasonWaitsfieldWebster
People
Population
1,451Lowest
1,918
2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±2.3Lowest
12% above U.S.
44.3±5.3
14% above U.S.
44.7±7.6Highest
15% above U.S.
Webster 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%
22.6%±8Lowest
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%
19.4%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Waitsfield and Webster 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.
$107,171±$14k
33% above U.S.
Mason and Webster 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.
$338,500±$30kLowest
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.
$1,396±$622
about the U.S. average
Mason and Webster 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.
$6,208
99% above U.S.
$6,021Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
87.2%±42.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.4%±30.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71
U.S.: 51.1%
Mason and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
41 minHighest
55% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
31 min
16% above U.S.
Work from home
20.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±6.1
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9Lowest
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 Merrimack Valley School District
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

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.