Compare towns
Wells vs Brighton vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Wells | Brighton | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,167Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% 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 | 15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 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 | 15.5% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Brighton School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.