Compare towns
Walden vs White River Junction 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 people working from home (21.4%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Lowest |
3,364Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% 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% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
| Walden and White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and White River Junction 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 | — | 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.