Compare towns
Barton vs Wells vs Wheelock 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Wells | Wheelock | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,148Highest |
717 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Wheelock 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Wheelock 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 |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Wells and Wheelock 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 |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Wells and Wheelock 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— | $900±$336 27% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Barton 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% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | — |
| High school 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.