St. Johnsbury vs Wells River
St. Johnsbury, Vermont versus Wells River, Vermont: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
St. Johnsbury and Wells River score about the same overall (44 vs 45 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | St. Johnsbury | Wells River |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $49k | $37k |
| Cost of Living | $56k | $50k |
| Home Value | $161k | $155k |
| Monthly Rent | $883 | $746 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $83 |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.22% | 2.31% |
| Income Tax | 8.60% | 8.60% |
| Sales Tax | 6.36% | 6.36% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 18.03% | 20.48% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | 7.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 17°F | 17°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 68°F | 67°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.3 in | 38.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 87.2 in | 65.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 207 days | 207 days |
| Summer Humidity | 58°F | 58°F |
| Comfortable Days | 70 days | 63 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 41.6 | 57.2 |
| Air Quality | 41 AQI | 40 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 89.0 |
| Violent Crime | 1229/100k | 931/100k |
| Property Crime | 3687/100k | 991/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 5,963 | 326 |
| Median Age | 48.5 | 46.1 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.14 | 0.40 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 1.05 | 1.06 |
| Political Leaning | D+16 | D+25 |
| White (%) | 92.7% | 75.8% |
| Black (%) | 1.1% | 0.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 1.6% | 2.1% |
| Asian (%) | 0.3% | 5.2% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 4.3% | 16.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | — |
| Walkability | 9.5/20 | 6.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 151 mi | 134 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 86.5% | 74.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 57.02 | 337.42 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is St. Johnsbury or Wells River more affordable?
- Wells River has the lower cost of living: its index is $50k, compared with St. Johnsbury's $56k and Wells River's $50k. Median rent is $883 in St. Johnsbury versus $746 in Wells River.
- Is St. Johnsbury or Wells River safer?
- Wells River has the lower violent crime rate. St. Johnsbury reports 1229/100k and Wells River reports 931/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in St. Johnsbury or Wells River?
- The median home value is $161k in St. Johnsbury and $155k in Wells River, so homes are more affordable in Wells River.