Compare towns
Wells vs Dover vs Pawlet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the highest household income ($75k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | Dover | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
1,466 |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
| Dover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest 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+ | 24.5%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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 VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest 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 | $75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$62,273±$14k 23% below VT |
| Wells and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Dover 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 6% above VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% 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 | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 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 | 15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Pawlet 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| 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.