Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Bow vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Bow | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
8,335Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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 5% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Bow and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208 99% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waitsfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Barnard 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Bow School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.