Compare towns
Wells vs Sheldon vs Dummerston 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%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Dummerston has the most expensive homes ($335k median).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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.
| Measure | Wells | Sheldon | Dummerston | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
2,267Highest |
2,090 |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Dummerston 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Dummerston 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Walden 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None 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.