Compare towns
Union vs Waitsfield vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Union | Waitsfield | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,918 |
1,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Hope and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waitsfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Hope and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.