Compare towns

Barton vs Wells vs Sutton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).

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.

MeasureBartonWellsSutton
People
Population
2,815Highest
1,148
790Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.9±6.5Lowest
4% above VT
50.7±5.2Highest
18% above VT
46.6±5.7
8% above VT
Wells and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.7%±3.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.5%±3.9
VT: 21.4%
24.5%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.7%
VT: 43.8%
29.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±1.5
VT: 7%
3%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,250±$16kLowest
18% below VT
$75,417±$11kHighest
7% below VT
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
Wells and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$201,200±$28kLowest
36% below VT
$243,000±$42kHighest
23% below VT
$231,100±$41k
27% below VT
Wells and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$793±$70Lowest
36% below VT
$1,313±$282Highest
6% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,355
33% below VT
$3,308Lowest
34% below VT
$3,975Highest
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.6%±12.5
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
12.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
10 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
50% above VT
48 minHighest
102% above VT
30 minLowest
26% above VT
Work from home
13.4%±5.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
Barton and Sutton 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 Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town Lake Region Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.5
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.