Compare towns
Braintree vs Pawlet vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Braintree | Pawlet | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,480Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Braintree and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,924Highest 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Mettawee School District #84 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.