Compare towns
Wells vs Hampton vs Walden 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Hampton | Walden | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,145 |
1,037Lowest |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
47.9±7.5 23% above U.S. |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawlet and Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawlet and Walden 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. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Walden 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±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$266,200±$44kHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Pawlet and Wells 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. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,153±$215 18% below U.S. |
| Wells and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308 6% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$3,924 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 | 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.