Compare towns
Orwell vs Williston vs Orange 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 kids (21.8% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Williston | Orange | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
10,144Highest |
957Lowest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
| Shoreham and Orange 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,306±$335 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.