Below Average CostVery SafeBlue Mountain Union School District #21
Wells River VT 5-26-26 · Ascended Dreamer / CC BY-SA 4.0Hale's Tavern, Wells River, VT · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domainBird's-eye View of Wells River, VT · Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain
Wells River is a small town of 326 in Vermont, with a median household income of $36,500
and a 7.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Wells River stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Wells River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Wells River city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.8
Wells River's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Wells River costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Wells River, VT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$154,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$746
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
55.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$36,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Wells River's violent crime rate is 34.6 per 100,000 residents
— 91% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
34.6 /100k
Property Crime
138.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Wells River is served primarily by Blue Mountain Union School District #21.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Wells River, VT
National Avg
School District
Blue Mountain Union School District #21
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
75.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Wells River sees average highs of 26.4°F in January
and 77.3°F in July,
with 38.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 65.7 inches of snow per year.
Wells River's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Wells River roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $154,700 and median rent is $746/month.
Wells River's violent crime rate is 34.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 138.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Wells River are operated by Blue Mountain Union School District #21.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.8:1. 14.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wells River, VT has a population of 326, a median household income of $36,500, and an unemployment rate of 7.8%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Wells River averages 26.4°F in January and 77.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.1 inches
with about 65.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Wells River, VT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 05081.
The population of Wells River, Vermont is 326 with a median age of 46.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Wells River: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $154,700, median household income $36,500, crime index 8 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wells River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
