Compare towns
Orwell vs Athens vs Cornwall vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Orwell | Athens | Cornwall | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
431Lowest |
1,208 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Cornwall and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Orwell 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% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Cornwall and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Athens 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.