Compare towns

Barton vs Mapleton vs Whiting 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 most homeowners (79.9%).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k 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.

MeasureBartonMapletonWhitingWells River
People
Population
730
1,884Highest
532
340Lowest
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.
39.6±2.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
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%
23.5%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±6.5Lowest
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%
13%±5.1Lowest
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%
25.9%
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%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±3.1Lowest
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.
$91,250±$38k
13% above U.S.
$38,688±$5kLowest
52% below 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.
$280,400±$36kHighest
16% below U.S.
$170,800±$103k
49% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$761±$150
46% below U.S.
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,204±$519Highest
15% below U.S.
$900±$336
36% 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.
$4,227Highest
36% above U.S.
$4,154
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%
58.3%±37.3
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±14.8
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%
11.5%
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%
65.4%
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.
1975
5 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 min
5% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below 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%
10%±5.4
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 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.