Compare towns

Barton vs Burke 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).
Burke has the highest household income ($87k).
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.

MeasureBartonBurkeWells River
People
Population
730
1,317Highest
340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
40±5.5Lowest
7% below VT
41.1±4.8
5% below VT
42.7±12.7Highest
about the VT average
Wells River and Burke 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%
23%±4
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Burke 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%
21.7%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Burke 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%
41.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
16.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
0.6%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Burke 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
$87,143±$17kHighest
7% above VT
$38,688±$5kLowest
52% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$146,900±$30kLowest
54% below VT
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
$170,800±$103k
46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
$938±$191Highest
24% below VT
$900±$336
27% below VT
Burke 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
$5,177Highest
about the VT average
$4,154
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.6%±14.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Burke 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%
10%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
38.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
VT: 73.2%
88.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
47.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
31 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
25 minLowest
8% above VT
34 minHighest
43% above VT
Work from home
16.5%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
5.2%±9.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Burke 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 — —
School district — Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.