What stands out worked out from the figures below

Addison has the highest household income ($107k).

Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).

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	Addison	Wells River
People
Population	1,175Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT	42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average
	Addison and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Addison and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.1%±1.9Highest VT: 21.4%	19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Addison and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,667±$7kHighest 31% above VT	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,200±$23kHighest 14% above VT	$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT	$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,831Highest 16% above VT	$4,154Lowest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wells River and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	38.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.2%Highest VT: 73.2%	47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 18% above VT	34 minHighest 43% above VT
Work from home	12.3%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9%	5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Addison and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.