What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Jefferson has the most homeowners (94%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barton	Jefferson
People
Population	730Lowest	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barton and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S.	$67,083±$9kHighest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S.	$186,900±$42kHighest 44% below U.S.
	Jefferson and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$761±$150 46% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average	$3,602Highest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.8%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson 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

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.