Compare towns
Barton vs Cornish 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).
Cornish has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Cornish | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
1,816Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barton and Cornish 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. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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 |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Cornish 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 | — | Cornish 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.