Compare towns
Whitingham vs Wells vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Whitingham | Wells | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,368 |
1,148Lowest |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Wells and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,055 about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 min 62% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.