What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gilman has the highest household income ($58k).

Wells River has the most kids (17.1% under 18).

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	Gilman	Wells River
People
Population	165Lowest	340Highest
Median age	56.2±6Highest 30% above VT	42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average
	Gilman and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	0%±17.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.1%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Wells River and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±16.8Highest VT: 21.4%	19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Gilman and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±7.8Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Gilman 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	$57,788±$32kHighest 29% below VT	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT
	Gilman and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$98,500±$46kLowest 69% below VT	$170,800±$103kHighest 46% below VT
	Wells River and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$700Highest 4% above VT	$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT
	Gilman and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,806Lowest 44% below VT	$4,154Highest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±69.1Highest VT: 48.4%	47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Gilman and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%	38.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61%Highest VT: 73.2%	47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 38 yrs older than VT	1938 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	—	34 min 43% above VT
Work from home	0%±13.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	5.2%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	Wells River and Gilman 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.