Compare towns
Barton vs Gorham vs Wells River vs Orleans
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).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k 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 | Gorham | Wells River | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
18,300Highest |
340Lowest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.7±12.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
| Wells River and Orleans 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barton and Orleans 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 49% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
$156,300±$18k 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
$810±$94 43% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 about the U.S. average |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— | — |
| 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.