Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Wolfeboro | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,918Lowest |
6,571Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
45% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.