Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Wilder vs Barnard vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Barnard has the highest household income ($98k).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Wilder | Barnard | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,918 |
3,087 |
1,211Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 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% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Wilder 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% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below 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 |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.