Compare towns
Pawlet vs Ripton vs Sutton 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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Ripton | Sutton | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
508Lowest |
790 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Sutton 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 26% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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.