Compare towns
Barton vs Athens vs Stratton vs Wells River
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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
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 | Barton | Athens | Stratton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Highest |
431 |
532 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Athens and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Stratton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Stratton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 32% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens 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 | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.