Compare towns
Wells vs Castleton vs Waterville
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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Castleton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
4,453Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% 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 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Wells and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Wells and Waterville 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Wells and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wells 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Wells and Waterville 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.