Compare towns
Barton vs North Troy vs Sheldon 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
North Troy has the most kids (31.6% under 18).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Barton | North Troy | Sheldon | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
506 |
2,267Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
34.1±4.4Lowest 21% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average |
| Wells River and Sheldon 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% |
31.6%±9.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| North Troy 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% |
16%±6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.6% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
16.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| North Troy and Sheldon 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 50% below VT |
$50,417±$5k 38% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Sheldon and North Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30k 54% below VT |
$121,100±$20kLowest 62% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 38% below VT |
$597±$179Lowest 52% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 37% below VT |
$2,641Lowest 48% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±30.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
21.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
63.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±8.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| North Troy 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.