Compare towns
Pawlet vs Salem vs Williston
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 homeowners (87.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Salem | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Lowest |
2,611 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 23% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Pawlet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pawlet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 26% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Salem 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Williston 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.