Compare towns
Wells vs Whiting vs Mendon 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).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Pawlet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
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 | Whiting | Mendon | Pawlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
532Lowest |
1,113 |
1,480Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
| Mendon 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 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Mendon 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,924 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 min 40% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | 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.