Compare towns
Brandon vs Wells vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Brandon | Wells | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,148 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Lowest 16% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Wells and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Wells and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Wells and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— |
| Wells and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.