Compare towns
Wheelock vs Putney vs Washington 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 people working from home (21.1%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Putney | Washington | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,056 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Washington and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Putney and Wells 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Putney and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Washington 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,485 31% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.