Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Hartford vs East Montpelier
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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
East Montpelier has the most people working from home (21.2%).
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 | Hartford | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
10,736Highest |
2,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
46.7±4Highest 8% above VT |
| 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%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and East Montpelier 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% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford 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% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hartford 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±$34k 4% above VT |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$92,778±$21kHighest 14% above VT |
| East Montpelier 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 33% above VT |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$378,700±$32k 20% above VT |
| Waitsfield and East Montpelier 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 |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$1,187±$131Lowest 4% below VT |
| Hartford 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 |
$5,773Lowest 15% above VT |
$5,868 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.3%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.2%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| East Montpelier 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Hartford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | U-32 Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.