Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Mapleton vs Barnard 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Mapleton | Barnard | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,918 |
1,884 |
1,211Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Barnard and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| 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±$821 15% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| 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 99% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnard 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 | — | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.