Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Waltham vs West Burke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most people working from home (31%).
Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).
West Burke has the most affordable homes ($275k 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 | Waitsfield | Waltham | West Burke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 193 |
452Highest |
161Lowest |
| Median age | 74.8±13.4Highest 74% above VT |
60.8±7.3 41% above VT |
59.2±16.3Lowest 37% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 0%±14.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±10.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Waltham and West Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 71.5%±17.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±13.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39% VT: 43.8% |
28.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±9.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and West Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $26,384±$5kLowest 68% below VT |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$27,321±$15k 66% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $453,100±$98kHighest 43% above VT |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$275,000±$60kLowest 13% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
$525±$373Lowest 57% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,688 7% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,194Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±49.6 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±31.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| West Burke and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
20.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 33.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 40% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 31%±23.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
20%±10.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.