Compare towns
Orwell vs Whiting vs Williston vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
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 | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
532Lowest |
10,144Highest |
540 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
| Williston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
— |
| Williston and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.