Compare towns
Orwell vs Highgate vs Whiting
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).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Highgate | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
3,528Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Orwell and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Whiting 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.