What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readsboro has the shortest commute (32 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Readsboro	Wells
People
Population	807Lowest	1,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.7±3.9 18% above VT	50.7±5.2 18% above VT
Kids under 18	6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	20.6%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Wells and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	29.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7%	3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Readsboro and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT	$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT
	Wells and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,500±$52kLowest 32% below VT	$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT
	Wells and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT	$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,480Highest 31% below VT	$3,308Lowest 34% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wells and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	15.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%	93.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 35% above VT	48 minHighest 102% above VT
Work from home	7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	11.3%±6.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Wells and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Readsboro School District	Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.