Compare towns
Orwell vs Ryegate vs Wolcott
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).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Ryegate | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,059Lowest |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Orwell and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott 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% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Ryegate 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% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kHighest 13% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
| Orwell and Wolcott 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 |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Orwell and Wolcott 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,930Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Orwell 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott 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 | — | Wolcott School District |
| High school 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.