Compare towns

Washington vs Burke vs Wells

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.

MeasureWashingtonBurkeWells
People
Population
1,056Lowest
1,317Highest
1,148
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.9±5.1Highest
23% above VT
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below VT
50.7±5.2
18% above VT
Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Burke and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±2.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.5%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31%
VT: 43.8%
41.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
Burke and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,103±$8kLowest
19% below VT
$87,143±$17kHighest
7% above VT
$75,417±$11k
7% below VT
Burke and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$217,700±$37kLowest
31% below VT
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
$243,000±$42k
23% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$996±$285
19% below VT
$938±$191Lowest
24% below VT
$1,313±$282Highest
6% above VT
Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,485
31% below VT
$5,177Highest
about the VT average
$3,308Lowest
34% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.5%±63.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100
VT: 48.4%
Burke and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
31% above VT
25 minLowest
8% above VT
48 minHighest
102% above VT
Work from home
14.9%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Burke and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 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.