The Town FilesWells, Vermont
Town in Rutland County · population 1,214 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $243,000
- Household income
- $75,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 50.7
Wells is a town of 1,214 people in Rutland County, Vermont. The median home is worth $243,000, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks more of a college town than 94% of Vermont towns, more vibrant than 85% of Vermont towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Vermont towns.
How Wells ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Wells is worth $243,000, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $75,417, which is more affordable than 76% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,313 a month. 93.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wells | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $243,000 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,313 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $75,417 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 93.4% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 39.3% | — |
Who lives in Wells
| People | Wells | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.7 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.5% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 11.3% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 47.5 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.1% | 89.3% |
Weather in Wells
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.1°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.7 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wells since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 25, 1972 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 25, 1972.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on July 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Rutland County since 1996
Rutland County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| August 22, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3567: Tropical Storm Henri |
Jobs and pay in Rutland County
Rutland County had 25,313 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,753 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Wells itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Public schools in Wells
1 public school with 78 students, about 13.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Village School | PK-6 | 78 | 13.0 |
Towns near Wells
- Granville, NY4.2 mi · 2,404 people · home $143,100
- Middletown Springs, VT4.5 mi · 794 people · home $262,200
- Poultney, VT5.6 mi · 1,079 people · home $196,600
- Pawlet, VT5.7 mi · 1,424 people · home $266,200
- Granville, NY5.9 mi · 6,215 people · home $151,100
- Tinmouth, VT6.2 mi · 553 people · home $251,000
- Poultney, VT6.7 mi · 3,020 people · home $206,200
- North Granville, NY8.4 mi · 524 people · home $133,800
Wells questions
Is Wells, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wells scores better for retirees than 44% of Vermont towns and quieter than 18%. 24.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.7).
How much does a house cost in Wells?
The median owner-occupied home in Wells is valued at $243,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,417, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,313 a month.
What is the weather like in Wells?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 79.7 inches of snow.
Does Wells get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wells since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 25, 1972. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)