What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).

Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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	Orford	Waitsfield
People
Population	1,295Lowest	1,918Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S.	44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Orford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Waitsfield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Orford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S.	$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Orford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S.	$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S.	$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Orford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S.	$6,208Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waitsfield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 3% below U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waitsfield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.