Compare towns
Barton vs Westmore vs Wells River 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 people working from home (16.5%).
Westmore has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Westmore | Wells River | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Highest |
465 |
340Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
51.5±11.5Highest 19% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Westmore 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% |
21.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore 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% |
32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Westmore 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 |
$87,188±$11k 7% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Westmore 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 |
$330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Westmore and Whiting 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 |
$1,050±$820 15% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Westmore 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 |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Westmore 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 | — | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.