Compare towns
Wells vs Fairfax 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 most affordable homes ($243k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Pawlet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
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 | Fairfax | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
47.9±7.5 11% 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 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest 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+ | 29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Fairfax 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 VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Fairfax 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
31 minLowest 31% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Pawlet 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 | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Fairfax School District | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.