Compare towns
Wells vs Proctor 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%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
Pawlet has the most expensive homes ($266k median).
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 | Proctor | Walden | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
1,794Highest |
1,037Lowest |
1,480 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
47.9±7.5 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$266,200±$44kHighest 16% below VT |
| 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 6% above VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% 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 |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%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 |
1938Lowest 38 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 |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.