Compare towns
Pawlet vs Jay vs Bethel
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
471Lowest |
1,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
| Jay and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT |
| Bethel and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
| Pawlet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Pawlet 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.