Compare towns
Wells vs Walden vs Orange vs Glover
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%).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Glover has the most kids (22.3% 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 | Walden | Orange | Glover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
1,037 |
957Lowest |
1,051 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
48.4±5.9Lowest 12% above VT |
| Wells and Orange 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.3%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Glover and Orange 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.2%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Glover 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Glover and Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,839±$18k 9% below 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±$42k 23% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$264,700±$34kHighest 16% below VT |
| Glover 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 |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$973±$130 21% below VT |
| Orange and Wells 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 |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,234Lowest 36% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.3%±64.2 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
40 min 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Glover 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.