Compare towns
Walden vs Arlington vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Walden | Arlington | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
2,598Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below 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 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Arlington and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Arlington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Walden 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Arlington School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.