Compare towns
Orwell vs Whiting 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 homeowners (87.3%).
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Whiting | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
532Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Orwell and Williston 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%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Williston 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Orwell 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.