Compare towns

Wells River vs Sandgate 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).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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.

MeasureWells RiverSandgateBarton
People
Population
340Lowest
435
730Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — —
-6.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.7±12.7
about the VT average
55.7±5.4Highest
29% above VT
40±5.5Lowest
7% below VT
Sandgate 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%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.1%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Wells River 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%
26%±11.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Sandgate 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%
37.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±1.6
VT: 7%
Sandgate 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
$69,167±$19kHighest
15% below VT
$40,833±$8k
50% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,800±$103k
46% below VT
$193,800±$31kHighest
39% below VT
$146,900±$30kLowest
54% below VT
Sandgate and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$336Highest
27% below VT
—
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
Wells River and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,154Highest
18% below VT
$2,778Lowest
45% below VT
$3,185
37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±14.8
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.8%±18.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Barton and Wells River 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%
9.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
25.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
47.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
52.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1959Highest
17 yrs older than VT
1945
31 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
43% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
Work from home
5.2%±9.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.5%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
Sandgate 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
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.