Compare towns
Orleans vs White River Junction vs Whiting
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 most affordable homes ($156k median).
White River Junction has the most people working from home (15.7%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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.
| Measure | Orleans | White River Junction | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
3,364Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Orleans and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Orleans and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest 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±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Whiting 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.