Compare towns
Barton vs Exeter vs Jefferson 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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Exeter | Jefferson | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
913 |
1,226Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Exeter 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% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Exeter 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% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%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%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barton and Jefferson 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. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Jefferson 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. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Jefferson 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. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
— | $900±$336Highest 36% below U.S. |
| Wells River and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 about the U.S. average |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,602 15% above U.S. |
$4,154Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Barton 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | — | — |
| 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.