Compare towns
Barton vs Wells River vs Williston vs Whiting
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).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Williston | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
340Lowest |
10,144Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Williston 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%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Williston 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 |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Williston and Whiting 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 |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Williston and Whiting 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | — | None 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.