Compare towns
Orwell 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
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Orwell | Walden | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
1,037Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
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 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.