Compare towns
Pawlet vs Worcester vs Middlesex 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480 |
831Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Wells 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.