Compare towns
Orwell vs Whitingham vs Walden
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).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% rent).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Whitingham | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,368Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Whitingham 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
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| 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.