Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Northfield vs East Montpelier
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).
East Montpelier has the shortest commute (20 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.
| Measure | Waitsfield | Northfield | East Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
46.7±4Highest 8% above VT |
| East Montpelier and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and East Montpelier 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% |
22.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and East Montpelier 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% |
59.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$92,778±$21kHighest 14% above VT |
| East Montpelier 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 |
$378,700±$32k 20% above VT |
| Waitsfield and East Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,187±$131 4% below VT |
| Waitsfield and East Montpelier 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 |
$5,868 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.3%±13.8Lowest 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% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.2%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| East Montpelier 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 | #15 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | U-32 Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.