Compare towns
Pawlet vs Exeter vs Wells vs Whitingham
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Whitingham has the youngest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Wells | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
913Lowest |
1,148 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9 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±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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±$44kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Whitingham 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±$44 39% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% 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. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$5,055Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
38 min 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawlet and Exeter 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.