Compare towns
Orwell vs Strafford 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 youngest population (median age 47.5).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,372Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Strafford and Walden 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Strafford 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±$25k 6% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.