Compare towns
Walden vs Charlotte 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 youngest population (median age 48.8).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
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 | Walden | Charlotte | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
3,916Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Charlotte and Wells 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% |
19.6%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Charlotte 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% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Charlotte 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% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Wells 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 |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Charlotte and Wells 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 |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.