Compare towns
Berlin vs Orwell vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Berlin | Orwell | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,294 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Berlin and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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 |
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.