What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).

Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wheelock	Wells River
People
Population	717Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	51±5.6Highest 18% above VT	42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average
	Wheelock and Wells River 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%	17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Wheelock and Wells River 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%	19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Wheelock and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,792±$20kHighest 20% below VT	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$189,600±$37kHighest 40% below VT	$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT
	Wheelock and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$900±$336 27% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,937Lowest 42% below VT	$4,154Highest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wells River and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	38.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 17% above VT	34 minHighest 43% above VT
Work from home	21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9%	5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Wheelock and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.