Compare towns
Barton vs Orleans vs Putnam
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%).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($266k 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 | Orleans | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
809Highest |
540Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Orleans 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% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orleans and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$57,159±$10k 29% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$156,300±$18k 53% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$810±$94Highest 43% below U.S. |
— |
| Orleans and Barton 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 |
$3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$3,674Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.3%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Putnam 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 | — | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.

