Compare towns
Dorset 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
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Pawlet has the most renters (12.2% rent).
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 | Dorset | Pawlet | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Highest |
1,480 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Lowest 6% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 21.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 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+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Dorset and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% 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 | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 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 | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 8% below VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 |
| 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.