Compare towns
Orwell vs Fairfield vs Shoreham
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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Shoreham has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Fairfield | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,938Highest |
1,269Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
| Shoreham 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$316,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
| Orwell and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.