Compare towns
Barton vs Williston 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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Williston | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
10,144Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Barton 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.