Compare towns
Pawlet vs Needham vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most homeowners (87.8%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Lowest |
32,459Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.7±3.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham 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 U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$75,822±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$238,000±$41kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,335±$220 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,168 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Needham | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.