Compare towns
Washington vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Wells has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Washington | Williston | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 31% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Washington 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.