Compare towns
Concord vs Barre vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Barre has the highest household income ($93k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Concord | Barre | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
8,005Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barre and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Concord and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,304±$9kLowest 10% below VT |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Barre and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Barre and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,111±$29Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Barre and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Wells 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.