Compare towns
Union vs Waitsfield vs Mapleton vs Washington
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 kids (24.9% under 18).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 48.2).
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 | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
1,918 |
1,884 |
1,624Lowest |
| 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% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
48.2±6.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
| Washington 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Lowest 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±$9k about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$59,861±$17kLowest 26% below 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. |
$195,200±$36k 41% 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. |
$1,036±$322 27% 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. |
$2,286 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±62.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Washington and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% 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% |
14.6%±5.9 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



