Compare towns
Barton vs Belvidere vs Marshfield 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).
Belvidere has the most expensive homes ($239k median).
Marshfield has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Belvidere | Marshfield | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Highest |
422 |
470 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average |
| Wells River and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Wells River 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% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Marshfield 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 |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Marshfield and Belvidere 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 |
$239,200±$51kHighest 24% below VT |
$178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Belvidere and Marshfield 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,269 35% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Barton 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
29 minLowest 24% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield 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.