Compare towns
Pawlet vs Wells vs Whiting
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%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 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 | Wells | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
1,148 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet and Wells 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% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Wells and Whiting 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.