Compare towns
Barton vs Berlin vs Putney 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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 | Berlin | Putney | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
2,880Highest |
2,622 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Berlin 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Wells River 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Berlin and Putney 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 |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Putney and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150 38% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Berlin 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 37% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Putney 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% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.