Compare towns
Wells vs Wheelock vs Whitingham 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%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
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 | Wheelock | Whitingham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
717Lowest |
1,368Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Wheelock 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% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Wheelock 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% |
34.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest 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±$11k 7% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% 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±$42k 23% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Whitingham and Wells 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 |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Wells and Walden 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.