Compare towns
Orwell vs Walden vs Williston
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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Walden | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,037Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Walden 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.