Compare towns
Barton vs Bennington 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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Bennington has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Bennington | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
1,588Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Wells River and Bennington 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Barton 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% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%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% |
2.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington 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. |
$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Bennington 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 | — | Contoocook Valley 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.