Compare towns
Barton vs Colrain vs Heath 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Colrain | Heath | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,627Highest |
765 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Colrain 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% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%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%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Colrain 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. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain 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. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
— | $900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Colrain 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 |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath 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 | — | Mohawk Trail | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.