Compare towns

Vernon vs Colrain vs Barton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Colrain has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

MeasureVernonColrainBarton
People
Population
2,709
1,627Lowest
2,815Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±5.4Lowest
10% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
44.9±6.5
15% above U.S.
Colrain and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Barton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.5%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Colrain and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Vernon and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,682±$9kHighest
6% above U.S.
$80,673±$10k
about the U.S. average
$66,250±$16kLowest
18% below U.S.
Vernon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$285,100±$25kHighest
14% below U.S.
$284,300±$14k
15% below U.S.
$201,200±$28kLowest
40% below U.S.
Vernon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$214
28% below U.S.
$1,102±$77Highest
22% below U.S.
$793±$70Lowest
44% below U.S.
Colrain and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,191Highest
66% above U.S.
$4,317
38% above U.S.
$3,355Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.2%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Colrain and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
76.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
34 min
27% above U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
Work from home
6.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barton and Colrain 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 #30 of 70 in VT — #38 of 70 in VT
School district Vernon School District Mohawk Trail Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24
High school in town None in town None in town Lake Region Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.