Compare towns
Orleans vs Wells vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Orleans | Wells | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
1,148Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Wells and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,308Highest 34% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 33% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| 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.