Compare towns
Pawlet vs Waitsfield 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%).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Waitsfield | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480 |
1,918Highest |
1,148Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
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%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Pawlet 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%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.