Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Brighton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Brighton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
1,167Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Brighton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Brighton 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 VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Northfield 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and Brighton 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 | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Brighton School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.