Compare towns
Wells vs Ripton vs Windham 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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Ripton | Windham | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
508Lowest |
594 |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Windham 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pawlet 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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±$215Lowest 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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.