Compare towns
Barton vs Gorham vs Wells River vs Whiting
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).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
18,300Highest |
340Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest 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. |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Whiting 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% 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% |
6.2%±4 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. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Whiting 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% 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. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Whiting 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 |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
11.5% 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% |
65.4% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below 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% |
10%±5.4 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | — | None in town |
| 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.