Compare towns
Pawlet vs Sheldon 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 people working from home (20.4%).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
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 | Sheldon | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Sheldon 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Pawlet 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.