Compare towns
Wells vs Plainfield vs Walden 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%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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 | Plainfield | Walden | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,314 |
1,037Lowest |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| 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 23% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,153±$215 7% below VT |
| Wells and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Wells 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 |
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.