Compare towns
Barton vs Stowe 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).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
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 | Stowe | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
5,285Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barton and Stowe 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 |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | — | Stowe Town School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.