Compare towns
Roxbury vs Waitsfield vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Roxbury | Waitsfield | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 299Lowest |
1,918Highest |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 11% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Roxbury and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,226±$14kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219kLowest about the U.S. average |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
| Waitsfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787 86% above U.S. |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Nelson School District |
| 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.