Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Rye vs Northfield
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Rye | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
5,611 |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Waitsfield 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% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rye 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±$92k 27% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Rye School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.