Compare towns
Union vs Waitsfield vs Mapleton
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 homeowners (85.9%).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,918 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Waitsfield 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Mapleton 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±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821Highest 15% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Union 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield and Union 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.