Compare towns
Barton vs Middlebury vs Stratton 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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Middlebury | Stratton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
9,175Highest |
532 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
31.8±3.7 26% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average |
| Wells River and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Stratton and Middlebury 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 |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Middlebury and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Stratton and Middlebury 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 |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Middlebury 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% |
10.7% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Middlebury Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6 |
— | — |
| 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.