Compare towns
Orleans vs Orwell vs Whiting vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Orleans | Orwell | Whiting | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
1,294Highest |
532Lowest |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
| Orwell and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Orwell and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.