What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).

Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($123k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orwell	Sheffield
People
Population	1,294Highest	190Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	47.5±7Highest 10% above VT	32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT
Kids under 18	21.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9%
	Sheffield 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%	13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Orwell and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Orwell and Sheffield 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	$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT
	Orwell and Sheffield 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	$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT	$1,219±$563Highest about the VT average
	Sheffield and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Highest 22% below VT	$1,714Lowest 66% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4%	36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Orwell and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	85.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 15% above VT	21 minLowest 12% below VT
Work from home	13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Orwell and Sheffield 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.