Compare towns
Pawlet vs Dover 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
Pawlet has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Pawlet | Dover | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
2,308Highest |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
47.5±4Lowest 22% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 18% below U.S. |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.