Compare towns
Orwell vs Springfield vs Whiting 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Springfield | Whiting | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
9,084Highest |
532Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Springfield 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% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Whiting and Walden 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Whiting 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.