Compare towns
Lowell vs Stratton vs Whiting vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Kirby has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Lowell | Stratton | Whiting | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070Highest |
532Lowest |
532Lowest |
756 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | — | — |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
39.6±2.7Highest 8% below VT |
38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
| Whiting and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Kirby and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
| Stratton and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,597 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lowell School District | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.