Compare towns
Pawlet vs Dover vs Bethel
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Bethel has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Lowest |
5,930Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
44.9±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.7±3.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Bethel 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% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pawlet and Bethel 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% |
84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest 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. |
$75,822±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S. |
$238,000±$41kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$1,335±$220 6% below U.S. |
| Dover and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,168 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethel and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest 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 | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.