Compare towns
Wells vs Salisbury vs Waterville
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 most people working from home (11.3%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
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 | Salisbury | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,200Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
50.6±6.5 17% above VT |
49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT |
| Wells and Salisbury 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% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Salisbury 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% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Salisbury and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Salisbury and Wells 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 |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Waterville 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% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Wells and Waterville 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.