Compare towns
Orwell vs Rochester 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).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Rochester | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,389Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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 |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81kLowest 20% 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.