Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Mapleton vs Thetford 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 the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Thetford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Thetford | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,918 |
1,884 |
2,813Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Thetford 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% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19kHighest 21% above 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. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$402,600±$71k 21% above 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. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208 99% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,948Highest 123% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% 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% |
49.7%±30.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thetford 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Highest 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Thetford School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.