Compare towns
Burke vs Orwell vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the highest household income ($87k).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Kirby has the most kids (30% under 18).
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 | Burke | Orwell | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,317Highest |
1,294 |
756Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
38.8±7.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Orwell and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Kirby and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Kirby and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Burke and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$302,900±$63kLowest 4% below VT |
| Burke and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177Highest about the VT average |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,597 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.