Compare towns

Orange vs Strafford vs Whiting

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).

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.

MeasureOrangeStraffordWhiting
People
Population
957
1,372Highest
532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
50.3±5.3
17% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
Strafford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Strafford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6
VT: 7%
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
Strafford and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22kLowest
30% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153Highest
8% above VT
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
$1,204±$519
about the VT average
Orange and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,227
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
19% above VT
23 min
about the VT average
22 minLowest
7% below VT
Work from home
13.5%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Strafford and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Strafford School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.