What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Barton has the most kids (20.7% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wells	Barton
People
Population	1,148Lowest	2,815Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8%	+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT	44.9±6.5Lowest 4% above VT
	Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Barton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4%	23.5%±3.9Lowest 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+	29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	32.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.9%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT	$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT
	Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT	$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT
	Wells and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT	$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,308Lowest 34% below VT	$3,355Highest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4%	39.6%±12.5Lowest 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	15.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	10.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	48 minHighest 102% above VT	35 minLowest 50% above VT
Work from home	11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.4%±5.7Highest 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	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24
High school in town	None in town	Lake Region Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.