Compare towns
Danby vs Needham vs Pawlet vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Pawlet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Danby | Needham | Pawlet | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,480 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Needham | Mettawee School District #84 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.