Compare towns
Pawlet vs Wells vs Worcester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
1,148 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Wells 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Wells and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
| Worcester and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Pawlet 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
29 minLowest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.