Compare towns

Barton vs Mapleton vs Wells River

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 people working from home (16.5%).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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.

MeasureBartonMapletonWells River
People
Population
730
1,884Highest
340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
40±5.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.8±6
7% above U.S.
42.7±12.7Highest
10% above U.S.
Wells River and Mapleton 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%
22.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barton and Mapleton 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%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.5
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%
34.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Mapleton 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
49% below U.S.
$91,731±$25kHighest
14% above U.S.
$38,688±$5kLowest
52% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$146,900±$30kLowest
56% below U.S.
$191,800±$23kHighest
42% below U.S.
$170,800±$103k
49% below U.S.
Mapleton and Wells River 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.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$900±$336Highest
36% below U.S.
Wells River and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,185
about the U.S. average
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$4,154Highest
33% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±14.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Barton and Wells River 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%
8.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
38.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
47.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
16.5%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
5.2%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barton and Mapleton 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 — RSU 79/MSAD 01 —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.