Compare towns
Wells vs Derby 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%).
Derby has the most renters (15.3% 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 | Derby | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
4,537Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
| Derby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby 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%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby 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% |
36.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Derby 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 |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% 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 |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wells and Derby 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 |
$3,449 32% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High 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.