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Wells River, VT

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Wells River, VT

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 35
Population339
Foreign Born4.1%
Population Density169people per mi²
Median Age52.4 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
ChangingSince 2010, this city has seen significant changes in racial and ethnic composition in a short time.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

62/100

38% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Wells River, Vermont

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $12k$23k
Comfortable $31k$46k
Luxury $70k+$109k+
Elite (Top 5%) $83k+$128k+
Affordability Ratio

88%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

B+
Hood Index scan area
Premium Lean69%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
4
Positive
13
Poor
3
Negative
2

Groceries

2 within 10 miles

1.8mi

Gas

6 within 10 miles

1.5mi

Hospital

2 within 20 miles

2.3mi

Airport

PDX — Portland International Jetport

94.1mi

Post Office

USPS — Woodsville, NH

1.2mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

Nearest private club or country club.

Golf0Nearest 11.4 mi
Camping20Nearest 7.5 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0 

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D-
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$41k+11.1%
46% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$388k
41% below US avg
College Educated
15.4%
56% below US avg
WFH
6.3%
56% below US avg
Homeownership
51.8%
21% below US avg
Median Home
$161k
43% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B+
Safe

Generally safer than 71% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
16.3
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+7.1%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+12.6%
Homicide
0.02 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery
0.12 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault
1.67 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr+1.5%
Burglary
0.91 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft
12.71 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
0.47 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+17Solidly Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Wells River, Vermont
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Inherited from parent state — no local data available.

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
C+
Moderate

Moderate friction. Expect trade-offs in some aspect of personal liberty and independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
F
Poor13.6% of income
Property Rights
D-
WeakIJ Grade D-
Firearm Rights
B-
GoodFPC Grade B-
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Importer (15% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
F
ProhibitedTribal · Poker · Betting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season162 days209 frost-free
Annual Rainfall40.5"
Elevation686 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C+
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D-
Poor258 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
B-
Fair169/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A-
Good1 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
B+
GoodInland Flooding, Cold Wave, Lightning, Hurricane, Strong Wind
Border / Coast
B+
Goodborder 58 mi · coast 95 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$11.2M/yrfor the county

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-21T22:54:52.000Z

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