Compare towns
Wells River vs Reading vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Wells River | Reading | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 340Lowest |
699 |
730Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Reading and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Reading and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,154 18% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 43% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 |
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.