Compare towns
Barton vs Mapleton vs Wells River vs Whiting
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 most homeowners (79.9%).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k median).
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 | Mapleton | Wells River | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,884Highest |
340Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Whiting 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%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Mapleton 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. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150 46% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Wells River 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. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% 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% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
11.5% 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% |
65.4% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below 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% |
10%±5.4 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.