Compare towns
Wheelock vs Peacham vs Middlesex vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Peacham has the most renters (23.9% rent).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wheelock | Peacham | Middlesex | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717Lowest |
887 |
1,943Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% 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 | 18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,028±$248Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Peacham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 | 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.