Compare towns
Pawlet vs Mendon vs Rupert vs Wells
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).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Mendon | Rupert | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
1,113 |
676Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Rupert and Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$88,229±$36k 9% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Mendon and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rupert and Mendon 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Mendon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,594 9% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | 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 |
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.