Compare towns
Barton vs Dover 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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Dover | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
33,364Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.7±12.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Wells River and Barton 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barton and Wells River 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% |
52%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% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 49% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Dover 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% |
8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.


