Compare towns
Wells vs Calais vs Washington
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%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Wells | Calais | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,713Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% 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 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 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+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Wells 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Calais 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±$42k 23% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
| Calais and Wells 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,485 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Washington 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.