Compare towns
Bolton vs Wardsboro vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Bolton | Wardsboro | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163 |
820Lowest |
1,211Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273Lowest 5% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826 4% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.