Compare towns
Appleton vs Barton vs Wells River vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has the most expensive homes ($236k median).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Strong has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Appleton | Barton | Wells River | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
730 |
340Lowest |
1,249 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9 22% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kHighest 34% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8k 49% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$47,557±$10k 41% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29k 45% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,185 about the U.S. average |
$4,154Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strong and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | — | — | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.