Compare towns

Wells vs Halifax 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 the highest household income ($75k).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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.

MeasureWellsHalifaxWashington
People
Population
1,148Highest
847Lowest
1,056
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
VT: +2.8%
+5.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.7±5.2
18% above VT
40.6±13.1Lowest
6% below VT
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%
25.4%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Halifax 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%
22.6%±7.2Lowest
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%
44.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.2%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±2
VT: 7%
Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,417±$11kHighest
7% below VT
$63,889±$7kLowest
21% below VT
$66,103±$8k
19% below VT
Wells and Washington 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
$217,700±$37kLowest
31% 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
$996±$285
19% below VT
Wells and Washington 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
$3,485
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
57.1%±73.8
VT: 48.4%
34.5%±63.6Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%
VT: 73.2%
86.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1968Lowest
8 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
48 minHighest
102% above VT
33 min
38% above VT
31 minLowest
31% above VT
Work from home
11.3%±6.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.9%±11.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
Halifax 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 Halifax School District 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.