Compare towns
Pawlet vs Proctor vs Wells vs Danby
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%).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480 |
1,586Highest |
1,148 |
1,133Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
47.3±8.9Lowest 10% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
| Danby and Wells 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24.3%±2.6 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% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest 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±$11k 7% below VT |
$77,321±$13kHighest 5% below VT |
| Danby and Wells 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 |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$272,400±$41kHighest 14% below VT |
| Danby and Pawlet 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±$200 14% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,543Highest 10% 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% |
41.4%±34.6 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% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Danby 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| 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 | 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.