Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
11,685Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below 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%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208 99% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Waitsfield 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.