Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Jay 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%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Barnard has the highest household income ($98k).
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 | Jay | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Highest |
471Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Barnard 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below 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±$821Lowest about the VT average |
— | $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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.