Compare towns
Wells vs Wheelock vs Mendon
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 youngest population (median age 50.7).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Wheelock | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
717Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Mendon 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 |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— | $1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
| Wells and Mendon 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 |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Wheelock 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.