Compare towns
Orwell vs Whiting vs Windham vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
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 | Windham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
532Lowest |
594 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Walden 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Windham 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±$36k 11% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Windham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
— | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Whiting and Orwell 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Windham 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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 | 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.