Compare towns
Pawlet vs Putney vs Wells vs Whitingham
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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.
| Measure | Pawlet | Putney | Wells | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480 |
2,622Highest |
1,148Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$673±$150 45% 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Wells 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.