Compare towns
Barton vs Pawlet 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).
Pawlet has the most homeowners (87.8%).
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 | Pawlet | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
1,480Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Pawlet 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% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet 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±$8k 50% below VT |
$62,273±$14kHighest 23% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Pawlet and Barton 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 |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Pawlet and Wells River 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 |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Pawlet and Wells River 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 |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest 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% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1964Highest 12 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 32% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet 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 | — | Mettawee School District #84 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.