Compare towns
Leicester 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
Leicester has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Leicester | Orwell | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,294 |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8Highest 13% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Leicester and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | $70,417±$30kLowest 13% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below VT |
| Whitingham and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107k about the VT average |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Orwell and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300 11% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Orwell and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest 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 | 11.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.