Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Fayston 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 kids (23.8% under 18).
Fayston has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Fayston | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
1,342Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
46.9±3.5Highest 9% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
| Fayston 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% |
19.3%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Fayston 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% |
19.6%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.9% VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±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 |
$110,250±$28kHighest 36% above VT |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
| Fayston 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±$92k 33% above VT |
$502,400±$82kHighest 59% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield 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 |
$1,654±$274Highest 34% above VT |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
| Fayston and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Lowest 23% above VT |
$6,689 33% above VT |
$6,948Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
6.3%±27.9Lowest 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fayston 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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.