Compare towns
Waitsfield vs East Montpelier vs Barnard
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%).
East Montpelier has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | East Montpelier | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
2,612Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
46.7±4Highest 8% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| East Montpelier and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest 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% |
22.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and East Montpelier 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% |
59.6% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$92,778±$21k 14% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and East Montpelier 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 |
$378,700±$32kLowest 20% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% 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 |
$1,187±$131Lowest 4% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$5,868Lowest 16% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.3%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.2%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| East Montpelier 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 | — | #15 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | U-32 Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.