Compare towns
Wells vs Brookfield vs Walden vs Glover
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%).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Glover has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
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 | Brookfield | Walden | Glover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,486Highest |
1,037Lowest |
1,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
48.4±5.9 12% 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% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.3%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Glover and Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Glover 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 |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$73,839±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Brookfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$264,700±$34k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$973±$130 21% below VT |
| Wells and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308 34% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,234Lowest 36% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.3%±64.2 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
40 min 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Walden 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.