What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).

Orwell has the most kids (21.8% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Mount Tabor	Orwell
People
Population	304Lowest	1,294Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.9% VT: +2.8%
Median age	57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT	47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT
	Mount Tabor and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4%	24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Mount Tabor and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7%	3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Orwell and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	—	$70,417±$22k 13% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT	$335,600±$25kLowest 6% above VT
	Mount Tabor and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT	$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,233Highest 4% above VT	$3,914Lowest 22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%	62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Orwell and Mount Tabor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11%Highest VT: 10.1%	10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	46 minHighest 94% above VT	27 minLowest 15% above VT
Work from home	10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Orwell and Mount Tabor 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.