Compare towns

Washington vs Pawlet vs Williamstown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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.

MeasureWashingtonPawletWilliamstown
People
Population
1,056Lowest
1,480
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
VT: +2.8%
-3.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
52.9±5.1Highest
23% above VT
47.9±7.5
11% above VT
42±5Lowest
about the VT average
Washington and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.5%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.3%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.9%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Pawlet and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
27.3%±2.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
17%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Pawlet and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31%
VT: 43.8%
37.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
17.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
4.4%±2.9
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
Williamstown and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,103±$8k
19% below VT
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% below VT
$94,418±$10kHighest
16% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$217,700±$37kLowest
31% below VT
$266,200±$44kHighest
16% below VT
$234,900±$24k
26% below VT
Pawlet and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$996±$285Lowest
19% below VT
$1,153±$215
7% below VT
$1,659±$189Highest
34% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,485Lowest
31% below VT
$3,924Highest
22% below VT
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.5%±63.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
42.6%±21.3
VT: 48.4%
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1964Lowest
12 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
31% above VT
33 minHighest
40% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
14.9%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
20.4%±8.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Pawlet and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #47 of 70 in VT
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Mettawee School District #84 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town None in town None in town Williamstown Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.5
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.