Compare towns
Barton vs White River Junction vs Windsor 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).
White River Junction has the highest household income ($77k).
Windsor has the most homeowners (57.8%).
Wells River has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | White River Junction | Windsor | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
3,364 |
3,554Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Windsor 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%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Windsor 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barton and White River Junction 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| White River Junction and Windsor 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| White River Junction and Windsor 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1963Highest 13 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and White River Junction 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.