Compare towns
Wells vs Halifax 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 the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Halifax | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
847Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest 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±$11k 7% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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 |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Halifax and Wells 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Wells and Walden 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Halifax 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Halifax 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.