Compare towns
Barton vs Guildhall vs Westfield vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
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 | Guildhall | Westfield | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Highest |
371 |
536 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
42.6±7.8 about the VT average |
44±19.9Highest about the VT average |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Westfield 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%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
27.1%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westfield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±5.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westfield and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.3% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.1%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Barton 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 50% below VT |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above VT |
$72,500±$30k 11% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$321,200±$62kHighest about the VT average |
$301,400±$47k 5% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$850±$717 31% below VT |
$863±$187 30% below VT |
$900±$336Highest 27% below VT |
| Wells River and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,625Highest 8% below VT |
$4,388 13% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
75%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±71.3 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.7% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Westfield 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 |
VT 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.