Compare towns
Barton vs Barnstead vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Barnstead | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
4,994Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Barnstead 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%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead 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 49% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Barnstead School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.


