Compare towns
Barton vs Hancock vs Mendon 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k 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 | Hancock | Mendon | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
435 |
1,113Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Mendon 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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Hancock 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% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hancock and Mendon 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 |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Mendon and Hancock 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 |
$187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Mendon and Hancock 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 |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Barton 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% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 |
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.