Waitsfield, Vermont Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 193, Waitsfield's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Waitsfield is a small community located in Vermont, within Washington County. The total population is 193. It ranks as the 132nd most populous out of 179 Census-designated places in Vermont.

Age Demographics

The median age in Waitsfield is 74.8 years. This is 74% higher than the state median of 43.1 years. 48.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Waitsfield is $26,384. This is 68% lower than the state median of $81,203. It is also 67% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 3.1%. This is 69% lower than the state poverty rate of 10.1%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The survey records no unemployed residents in Waitsfield, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $453,100. Housing costs are 43% higher than the state median of $316,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 17.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 33.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 54% lower than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Waitsfield is White (non-Hispanic), making up 83.9% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (4.2% vs 1.1%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (4.7% vs 2.6%).

Education

71.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Waitsfield in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 63% higher than the state rate of 43.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 35.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Waitsfield, Vermont is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Vermont state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 179 Census-designated places in Vermont. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.