Compare towns
Royalton 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
Royalton has the highest household income ($104k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% 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.
| Measure | Royalton | Wells | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,752Highest |
1,148 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
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 | 14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±6.4Lowest 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+ | 42.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Royalton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$73kHighest 17% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Royalton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— |
| Wells and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,675Highest 7% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Royalton 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 | #48 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | White River Valley High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.