Compare towns

Pawlet vs Putnam vs Wells

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%).
Putnam has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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.

MeasurePawletPutnamWells
People
Population
1,480Highest
540Lowest
1,148
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.9±7.5Lowest
23% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
50.7±5.2
30% above U.S.
Putnam 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
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pawlet and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.3%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Pawlet and Wells 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.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
$75,417±$11k
7% below U.S.
Putnam 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±$44kHighest
20% below U.S.
$266,200±$48kHighest
20% below U.S.
$243,000±$42kLowest
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,153±$215Lowest
18% below U.S.
—
$1,313±$282Highest
7% below U.S.
Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,924Highest
26% above U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$3,308Lowest
6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.6%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
62.5%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
48 minHighest
80% above U.S.
Work from home
20.4%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
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 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
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

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.