Compare towns
Bethel vs Shoreham vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Shoreham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bethel | Shoreham | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Highest |
1,269Lowest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Shoreham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Shoreham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,306±$335 6% above VT |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
| Bethel and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168Highest about the VT average |
$4,713 6% below VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.