Compare towns
Pawlet vs Middlesex 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Middlesex | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.