Compare towns
Halifax vs Orwell vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Halifax | Orwell | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
1,294 |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Orwell and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below VT |
| Whitingham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Halifax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.