What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

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 Eliot	Waitsfield
People
Population	4,203Highest	1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S.	44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S.
	South Eliot and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waitsfield and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Eliot and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waitsfield and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,299±$9kHighest 23% above U.S.	$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S.
	South Eliot and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$475,600±$52kHighest 43% above U.S.	$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S.
	South Eliot and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S.	$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S.
	South Eliot and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S.	$6,208Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±30.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Eliot and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9% U.S.: 65.2%	79.9% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waitsfield and South Eliot 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
High school 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.