What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).

Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barton	Penobscot
People
Population	730Lowest	1,154Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average	53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S.
Kids under 18	24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	32.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barton and Penobscot 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.	$63,194±$14kHighest 22% below U.S.
	Penobscot 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 56% below U.S.	$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S.	$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,185Highest about the U.S. average	$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.8%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Penobscot and Barton 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%	16%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	16.5%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Penobscot 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	—	Penobscot Public Schools
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.