Compare towns
Barton vs Bellows Falls vs Mapleton vs Union
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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Barton | Bellows Falls | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
2,891Highest |
1,884 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Union and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150 46% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
| Union and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 about the U.S. average |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Union 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 | — | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| 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.