What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).

Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pawlet	Manchester
People
Population	1,480Lowest	4,486Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT	54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT
	Manchester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	16.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Pawlet and Manchester 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%	25.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Pawlet and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	47.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 7%	5.8%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Manchester and Pawlet 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	$94,886±$23kHighest 17% above VT
	Manchester and Pawlet 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	$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT	$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT
	Pawlet and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,924Lowest 22% below VT	$5,923Highest 18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Manchester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10%Lowest VT: 10.1%	16.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 40% above VT	14 minLowest 39% below VT
Work from home	20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.1%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Manchester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#37 of 70 in VT
School district	Mettawee School District #84	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.