Compare towns
Cavendish vs Orwell vs Whiting vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k 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 | Cavendish | Orwell | Whiting | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,242 |
1,294 |
532Lowest |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 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+ | 23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Whiting and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Sharon and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948 22% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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 | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 18 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.