Compare towns
Orange vs Strafford vs Whiting vs Groton
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).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Orange | Strafford | Whiting | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
1,372Highest |
532Lowest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest 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 |
45.7±5.8 6% above 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest 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% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Groton 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% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Whiting 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 |
$77,250±$14k 5% below 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 |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| 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 |
$3,659 27% 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% |
12.5%±72.9 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% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest 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 |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 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 | 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.