Compare towns
Wells vs Sandgate vs Castleton 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 most expensive homes ($243k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Sandgate | Castleton | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate 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% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% 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±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 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 |
— | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wells and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308 34% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Wells 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Walden 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 | 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.