Compare towns
Wells vs Exeter 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 the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
| Wells and Pawlet 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Pawlet 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$266,200±$44k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,153±$215Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pawlet and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.