Compare towns
Pawlet vs Wells vs Windham vs Whitingham
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 kids (20.3% under 18).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Wells | Windham | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
1,148 |
594Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
46.4±7.1 8% 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Whitingham 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Wells 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Pawlet 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.