Compare towns
Stratton vs Wardsboro vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Wardsboro has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
820 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wells and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Wardsboro and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.