Compare towns
Walden vs Reading 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k 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 | Reading | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
699Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Wells 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Walden and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 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.