Compare towns
Wells vs Topsham 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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
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 | Topsham | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
999Lowest |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
47.9±7.5Lowest 11% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet and Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Wells and Topsham 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% 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 |
$908±$398Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wells 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
33 minLowest 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Mettawee School District #84 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.