Compare towns
Barton vs Braintree vs Orleans vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k 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 | Barton | Braintree | Orleans | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,026Highest |
809 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school 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.