Compare towns
Orwell vs Wardsboro vs Whiting
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).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Wardsboro | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
820 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest 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%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Orwell 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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±$22k 13% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Orwell 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 |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
| Orwell and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Wardsboro and Whiting 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 |
$4,345Highest 14% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 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% |
7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.