Compare towns
Danby vs Pawlet vs Wells vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Pawlet has the most renters (12.2% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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 | Pawlet | Wells | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,480 |
1,148 |
2,092Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±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 | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
| Dorset and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mettawee School District #84 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.