Compare towns
Barton vs Unity vs North Troy vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
North Troy has the most kids (31.6% under 18).
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 | Unity | North Troy | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,375Highest |
506 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
34.1±4.4Lowest 12% below U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Unity 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
31.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| North Troy and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| North Troy 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 49% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$50,417±$5k 38% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30k 56% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$121,100±$20kLowest 64% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Unity and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150 46% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$597±$179Lowest 58% below U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Unity 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 about the U.S. average |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$2,641Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.3%±30.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
50 minHighest 90% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±8.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Troy 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 | — | Unity School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.