Compare towns
Barton vs Wells River vs Wilder
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).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Wilder has the highest household income ($75k).
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 | Wells River | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
340Lowest |
3,087Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder 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% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Wells River 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Wilder and Wells River 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 |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder 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 |
$4,154 18% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Wilder 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 Our Story | 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.