Compare towns
Wells vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 50.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
10,144Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Wells 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$11kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.