Compare towns
Orwell vs Williston vs Orange vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
10,144Highest |
957 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Orange 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Williston 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,227 16% 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% |
58.3%±37.3 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest 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 |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Orange 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.