Compare towns
Barton vs Brookline vs Windham 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).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Brookline | Windham | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Highest |
531 |
594 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Windham 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% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Windham and Brookline 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 |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— | $900±$336 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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.