Compare towns
Waterville vs Wells vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Whitingham has the most expensive homes ($262k median).
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 | Waterville | Wells | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,148 |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Wells and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Wells and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
| Whitingham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Wells and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minLowest 60% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Wells and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.