Compare towns
Pawlet vs Dummerston vs Whitingham vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% 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 | Pawlet | Dummerston | Whitingham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480 |
2,090Highest |
1,368 |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% 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 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 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 | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Dummerston and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 22% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.