Compare towns
Wells vs Colrain vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Colrain has the highest household income ($81k).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Wells | Colrain | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Wells and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Mohawk Trail | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.