Compare towns
Calais vs Walden vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Calais | Walden | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
1,037Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Calais and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Calais and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 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.