Compare towns
Pawlet vs Proctor 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 people working from home (20.4%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Proctor | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
1,586Highest |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
47.3±8.9Lowest 10% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Proctor 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% |
23.5%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Wells 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 VT: 43.8% |
28%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Proctor 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 |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,059±$200Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Pawlet 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 |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Wells 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 |
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.


