Compare towns

Wells vs Washington vs Pawlet

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Washington has the most expensive homes ($359k 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.

MeasureWellsWashingtonPawlet
People
Population
1,148Lowest
1,208
1,480Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.7±5.2
30% above U.S.
55±4.7Highest
41% above U.S.
47.9±7.5Lowest
23% above U.S.
Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
13.8%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.3%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pawlet and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.5%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Washington 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
U.S.: 35.7%
32%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Washington 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 U.S.
$89,453±$12kHighest
11% above U.S.
$62,273±$14kLowest
23% below U.S.
Washington 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±$42kLowest
27% below U.S.
$358,600±$32kHighest
8% above U.S.
$266,200±$44k
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,313±$282Highest
7% below U.S.
$1,106±$160Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,153±$215
18% below U.S.
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
6% above U.S.
$4,321Highest
39% above U.S.
$3,924
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.5%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±88.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.6%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
48 minHighest
80% above U.S.
36 min
34% above U.S.
33 minLowest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
11.3%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pawlet and Washington 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 School District 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

U.S. 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.