Compare towns
Wells River vs Stratton vs Barton vs Hancock
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).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Hancock has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Stratton | Barton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 340Lowest |
532 |
730Highest |
435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
33.8±11.6 22% below VT |
| Wells River and Barton 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Hancock 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Hancock 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Hancock 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 43% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Hancock 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 | 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.