Compare towns
Orwell vs Walden vs Whitingham
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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
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 | Walden | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,037Lowest |
1,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% 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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Whitingham 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Walden and Whitingham 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.