Compare towns
Orwell vs White River Junction 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 homeowners (87.3%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | White River Junction | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
3,364Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Orwell and Whiting 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% |
17.1%±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%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% 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±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school 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.