Compare towns
Wells vs Castleton vs Wheelock
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).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
4,453Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Wells and Castleton 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±$195Lowest 8% 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 | $3,308Highest 34% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Wells 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 | — |
| High school 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.