Compare towns
Pawlet vs Halifax vs Leicester
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 most homeowners (87.8%).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Halifax | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
847Lowest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT |
| Leicester 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Leicester 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Leicester 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 |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$70,417±$30kHighest 13% below VT |
| Leicester and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
| Pawlet and Leicester 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Halifax School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.