Compare towns
Orwell vs Proctor vs Sheldon 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).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,794 |
2,267Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Proctor 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% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Sheldon 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$4,032Highest 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% 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 |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.