Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Northfield 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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Northfield | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918 |
5,920Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% 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±$821 about the VT average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$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 |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.