Compare towns

Barton vs Orleans vs White River Junction

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).
Orleans has the most homeowners (64.1%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

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.

MeasureBartonOrleansWhite River Junction
People
Population
730Lowest
809
3,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
+10.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40±5.5
7% below VT
41.7±5.8Highest
3% below VT
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
Orleans and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.1%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.9%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
24.8%
VT: 43.8%
38.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.7%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Orleans and Barton 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
50% below VT
$57,159±$10k
30% below VT
$77,168±$4kHighest
5% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$146,900±$30kLowest
54% below VT
$156,300±$18k
51% below VT
$278,800±$78kHighest
12% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
$810±$94
34% below VT
$1,222±$216Highest
about the VT average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,185
37% below VT
$3,019Lowest
40% below VT
$5,651Highest
12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
27.3%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
42.9%±17.3
VT: 48.4%
Barton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
VT: 73.2%
64.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
31 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1963Highest
13 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
31 minHighest
33% above VT
15 minLowest
35% below VT
Work from home
16.5%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.3%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.7%±5.8
VT: 16.9%
Barton and White River Junction 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 — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.