Compare towns
Barton vs St. George vs Worcester 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 affordable homes ($147k median).
St. George has the highest household income ($109k).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | St. George | Worcester | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
812 |
831Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Worcester and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George and Barton 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% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Worcester 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% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and St. George 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 |
$109,464±$34kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| St. George and Worcester 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 |
$376,800±$50kHighest 19% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,514Highest 9% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| St. George 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Worcester 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.