Compare towns

Waitsfield vs Grantham vs Northfield

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 most people working from home (19%).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

MeasureWaitsfieldGranthamNorthfield
People
Population
1,918Lowest
3,465
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.3
14% above U.S.
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
36.4±4.1Lowest
6% below U.S.
Grantham 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
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±6.6
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Waitsfield and Grantham 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%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20%±3.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Waitsfield and Northfield 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%
59.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
34.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6
U.S.: 6.4%
15.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,375±$34k
5% above U.S.
$106,403±$54kHighest
32% above U.S.
$71,768±$13kLowest
11% below U.S.
Grantham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$422,400±$92kHighest
27% above U.S.
$343,100±$39k
3% above U.S.
$274,400±$21kLowest
18% below U.S.
Waitsfield and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$821Highest
15% below U.S.
—
$1,018±$207Lowest
28% below U.S.
Waitsfield and Northfield 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.
$7,605Highest
144% above U.S.
$4,878Lowest
56% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±30.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
63.3%±17.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Northfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1956Lowest
24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Waitsfield and Grantham 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 — #6 of 120 in NH #42 of 70 in VT
School district Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Grantham 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

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.