Compare towns
Orwell vs Whiting vs Wolcott
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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k 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 | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
532Lowest |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
| Orwell and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Wolcott 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%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$22k 13% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Whiting and Orwell 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% 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±$51 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,059±$118Lowest 14% 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 |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Orwell 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older 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 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wolcott 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 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.