Compare towns
Wheelock vs Reading vs Sandgate 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 homeowners (97.9%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Wells has the youngest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Reading | Sandgate | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
699 |
435Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
50.7±5.2Lowest 18% above VT |
| Sandgate and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Wells 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$193,800±$31k 39% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 42% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 16% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.