Compare towns
Orwell vs Northfield 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 oldest population (median age 47.5).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Northfield | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
5,920Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Orwell and Whiting 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Northfield 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Orwell and Whiting 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% 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 | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Northfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.