Compare towns
Barton vs Stratton vs Wells River vs Orleans
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 people working from home (16.5%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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 | Stratton | Wells River | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
532 |
340Lowest |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Wells River and Orleans 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Orleans 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% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Orleans 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Stratton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 32% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Orleans 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 | — | — | — |
| 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.