Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Highest |
699Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waitsfield and Reading 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 4% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% 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 |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 History | 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.