Compare towns
Barton vs Reading vs West Windsor 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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
West Windsor has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Reading | West Windsor | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
699 |
1,171Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| West Windsor and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and West Windsor 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and West Windsor 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| West Windsor and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| West Windsor and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| West Windsor and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,100±$217Highest 11% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Barton 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.