What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).

Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mont Vernon	Waitsfield
People
Population	2,636Highest	1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3% U.S.: +7.4%	+7.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±2.8Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S.
	Waitsfield and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waitsfield and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Mont Vernon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S.	$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S.	$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S.
	Mont Vernon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,200±$821Highest 15% below U.S.
	Waitsfield and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,432Highest 202% above U.S.	$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±80.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Mont Vernon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mont Vernon and Waitsfield 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	#4 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Mont Vernon 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

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.