Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Mason 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Mason has the highest household income ($111k).
Barnard has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Mason | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Highest |
1,451 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
42.4±6Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Barnard 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$111,090±$3kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Mason and Barnard 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. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$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±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208 99% above U.S. |
$7,049Highest 126% above U.S. |
$6,038Lowest 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | Mason 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 Our Story | 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.