Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
39% of residents live below the poverty line in Wells River, against 9.5% in Vermont’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. No town among the 72 in Vermont we compare has a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Wells River. Wells River has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Wells River beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 513 in 1880, a peak of 608 in 1910, 431 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1906 and 2 maps from 1935 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Wells River, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Wells River.
At 34 minutes, Wells River’s average trip to work is where Vermont’s towns sit at 23 minutes and U.S. towns at 25 minutes. Wells River’s median household income is $39,000. Since 2013, Wells River has lost 250 jobs, to 307 in 2023.
| Wells River | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 34 minutes | 23 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $39,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.5% | 16% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
48% of households own their home in Wells River. Typical home values rose 7.9% in the year to September 2026. The median rent in Wells River is $900 a month.
| Wells River | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 48% | 75% | 73% |
| Median rent | $900 a month | $1,135 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Wells River has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 81°, January nights drop to 7° and about 66 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Wells River beats the Vermont average on 2 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 12. 13% of Wells River adults binge drink. Only 1 of the 72 Vermont towns we compare have a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Wells River.
| Wells River | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 16% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 30% | 36% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 32% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 19% | 25% |
| What stands out | Wells River | VT |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer binge drinkers | 13.3% | 16.6% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.9% | 76.7% |
| More adults who get no exercise | 26% | 18.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Wells River | Vermont towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.9 miles per square mile | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 6.7% | 14% | 4.3% |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 57% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Wells River. Close and well known come first.
Big draw39 mi MountainMount Washington
18 mi Ski areaCannon Mountain104 runs · 2,201 ft vertical
33 mi National forestWhite Mountain National Forest
19 mi State parkFranconia Notch State Park
20 mi WaterfallFlume Gorge
23 mi Ski areaLoon Mountain Resort80 runs · 2,189 ft verticalMount Washington: wwoods, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cannon Mountain: Mikespenard at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · White Mountain National Forest: Ken Gallager at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Franconia Notch State Park: Stephen Sokolowski, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Flume Gorge: MyCatIsAChonk, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Loon Mountain Resort: Own work, Public domain
None within 15 miles of Wells River; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Wells River residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Vermont.
Where Wells River’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Village in Vermont, United States
Wells River is a village in the town of Newbury in Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 431 at the 2020 census. The village center is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 5 and 302. The village center (the portion near the confluence of the Wells River and the Connecticut River) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 as Wells River Village Historic District. The district covers 84 contributing properties over an area of 390 acres (1.6 km2). It includes examples of Classical Revival, Federal, and Late Victorian styles.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Wells River has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
