Compare towns
Pawlet vs Exeter vs Rupert 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 most people working from home (20.4%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Exeter | Rupert | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
913 |
676Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Exeter 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% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$362,500±$63kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rupert and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,594Highest 47% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Pawlet 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawlet and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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 | 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.