Compare towns
Pawlet vs Reading vs Bethel
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bethel has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Reading | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
699Lowest |
1,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
| Reading and Bethel 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Reading and Bethel 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| 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 |
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.