Compare towns
Barton vs Northfield vs Plainfield 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Northfield | Plainfield | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
5,920Highest |
1,314 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Wells River 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Plainfield 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Northfield and Plainfield 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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 |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Plainfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.