What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).

Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Waitsfield	Lebanon
People
Population	1,918Lowest	14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S.	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average
	Waitsfield and Lebanon 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%	14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Waitsfield and Lebanon 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%	57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lebanon 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 5% above U.S.	$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Lebanon 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.	$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Waitsfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S.	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.
	Lebanon and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S.	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.4%±30.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waitsfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 same as U.S.	1980 same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 5% below U.S.	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.
Work from home	19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon 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	—	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	Harwood Unified Union School District #60	Lebanon School District
High school in town	None in town	Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.