Compare towns
Barton vs Orleans vs Wilder
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%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
809 |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Barton 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Orleans 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 |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Orleans 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 |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Orleans 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 |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Wilder 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.

