Compare towns
Orwell vs Fair Haven vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Fair Haven | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
2,724Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Walden 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 |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.