Compare towns
Wells vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
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 | Worcester | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
831Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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 |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wells and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.