Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Barnard vs Thetford
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 renters (20.1% rent).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Barnard | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
1,211Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
| Waitsfield and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
| Barnard and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208 23% above VT |
$6,038Lowest 20% above VT |
$6,948Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.