Compare towns
Barton vs Halifax vs Newark 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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Newark has the highest household income ($73k).
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 | Halifax | Newark | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
847Highest |
727 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average |
| Wells River and Newark 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Barton 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barton and Halifax 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 |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$72,929±$7kHighest 10% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Newark and Halifax 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 |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Halifax and Newark 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 |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Halifax 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 32% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Halifax School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.