Compare towns
Pawlet vs Plainfield 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 people working from home (20.4%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Bethel has the highest household income ($76k).
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 | Plainfield | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
1,016Lowest |
1,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below 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%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Plainfield 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% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$75,822±$7kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Bethel and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$238,000±$41k 28% below U.S. |
| 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±$215 18% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$1,335±$220Highest 6% below U.S. |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,168Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±22Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawlet and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | — | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.