Barton offers outdoor recreation and lots of land
The town of Barton rests in the heart of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, less than 25 miles south of the Canadian border. “It has great access to outdoor recreation,” says Nicholas Maclure, broker and owner of Century 21 Farm & Forest, who was born and raised in the Northeast Kingdom. “Crystal Lake is the biggest attraction, but you’ve also got skiing and hiking nearby.”
The town’s two villages, Barton and Orleans, are home to a few locally owned shops and restaurants. Tree-lined hills and large expanses of open farmland cover the remaining acreage. “We’re blessed with land here, so it appeals to those who are looking for a rural lifestyle,” Maclure says.
Summer lake recreation and VAST trails in winter
In the summer months, Crystal Lake is one of the main recreation areas. “People are out waterskiing, tubing, fishing and just joyriding,” Maclure says. Pageant Park rests at the lake’s northern tip, with a beach and a small boat launch. Crystal Lake State Park, at the northwestern corner, offers picnic areas, a bathhouse and a swimming beach.
In addition to lake recreation, both the Barton Golf Club and the Orleans Country Club have 18-hole courses that are open to the public. Willoughby State Forest covers nearly 8,000 acres just east of town, with wooded campsites and more than 10 miles of hiking trails. During the winter, snowshoers and skiers use these trails as well. Snowmobilers can travel Barton’s winter landscape on paths maintained by the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, or VAST.
Stores and restaurants in Barton and Orleans villages
Barton Village and Orleans Village each have a library and a post office, as well as a handful of stores and restaurants. In Orleans, locals can stop into Thibault’s Market for groceries and head to Carriage House Cafe & Grill for a casual meal. C & C Supermarket is Barton’s village grocery. Sweet Scoops serves hard ice cream and maple creamies, and Roberto's Neopolitan Pizza offers a variety of specialty toppings. In the more rural parts of town, farm stands sell seasonal produce, maple syrup and eggs.
Village homes versus more rural properties
In the two villages, Victorian-era farmhouses, Cape Cods and vacation cottages line the edges of paved streets. Lots are generally between a quarter acre and an acre in size, and most have private driveways. Village homes are connected to public water and sewer service.
In the other parts of town, houses tend to be more spread out. Owners maintain their own wells and septic systems, and properties often span multiple acres. “You can get out in the country and have a little hobby farm and not have to spend crazy amounts of money,” Maclure says. Home prices throughout Barton tend to range from around $140,000 to $820,000, although manufactured homes may sell between $80,000 and $200,000. The town has a CAP Index score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Barton’s public and private schools
Prekindergarten through eighth-grade students may begin their education at the Barton Academy & Graded School, which rates a D-plus on Niche. Some children attend the unrated St. Paul’s Catholic School, a private elementary and middle school with fewer than 100 students. Lake Region Union High School earns a B, and it offers career and technical education programs in a variety of fields, including culinary arts, computer programming and welding.
Celebrations at Roaring Brook Park and nearby venues
In September, Roaring Brook Park hosts the Orleans County Fair, which includes craft demonstrations, horse-riding competitions and a demolition derby. Barton’s Fourth of July celebration kicks off with a parade through the village. The parade ends at Roaring Brook Park, where family-friendly activities are held throughout the day. Other nearby events include the Kingdom Games, a series of outdoor recreation challenges that take place throughout the Northeast Kingdom. One of the challenges is a 5-mile swim around the perimeter of Crystal Lake. From June through early October, the Bread and Puppet Theater puts on shows at their farm in Glover, about 6 miles south.
Employment options, car travel and other transportation
Barton is a car-dependent community, and U.S. Route 5 and Interstate 91 are the main travel routes. Some locals commute into St. Johnsbury, around 30 miles south, where the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is located. Others work for the Ethan Allen manufacturing plant in Orleans Village. “The Northeast Kingdom does not have a lot of huge employers, so some people work remotely,” Maclure says.
Rural Community Transportation provides limited shuttle service to the area. Freight trains run through town, but there are no passenger rails or stations nearby. The Burlington International Airport is about 75 miles west.
Preparing for snow and rain
Vermont winters tend to be cold and snowy. Locals are well acclimated to the snow, but it can be an adjustment for newcomers. “If you can learn to appreciate the scenic beauty of the snow and enjoy outdoor recreation, it can be quite nice,” Maclure says.
Snowmelt and heavy rains sometimes lead to flooding along the Barton River. Lenders may require flood insurance for homes near the river.
