What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.3%).

Waitsfield has the most homeowners (79.9%).

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	South Burlington	Waitsfield
People
Population	20,756Highest	1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	+7.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT	44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average
	Waitsfield and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Waitsfield and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	63.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2Highest VT: 7%	3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7%
	South Burlington and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT	$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT
	South Burlington and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT	$422,400±$92kLowest 33% above VT
	South Burlington and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT	$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average
	South Burlington and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,674Highest 32% above VT	$6,208Lowest 23% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Waitsfield and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 25% below VT	25 minHighest 6% above VT
Work from home	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%	19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Burlington 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	#12 of 70 in VT	—
School district	South Burlington School District	Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town	South Burlington High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.