Compare towns
Orwell vs Whiting vs Williston vs Shoreham
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 renters (34.6% rent).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Shoreham has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
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 | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
532Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
| Shoreham 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Lowest 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
| Williston and Shoreham 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 |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,306±$335 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest 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% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% 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 |
1979 3 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 |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Shoreham 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.