Compare towns
Bolton vs Danby vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.
| Measure | Bolton | Danby | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,163Highest |
1,133Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wells and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,600±$42kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Bolton and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,826Highest 4% below VT |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bolton and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.