Compare towns
Fairfield 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
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Fairfield | Pawlet | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
1,480 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
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 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8Lowest 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+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Fairfield and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Fairfield and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441Lowest 14% 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 | $4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 40% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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.