Compare towns
Wells vs Middlesex 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Pawlet has the most renters (12.2% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
| Middlesex and Wells 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.