Compare towns
Wells vs Highgate 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%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
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 | Highgate | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
3,528Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Wells 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.