Compare towns

Orwell vs Windham vs Whiting

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 oldest population (median age 47.5).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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.

MeasureOrwellWindhamWhiting
People
Population
1,294Highest
594
532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
VT: +2.8%
— —
Median age
47.5±7Highest
10% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
Orwell and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
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%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1Lowest
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%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.9
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
6.2%±4Highest
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±$22kLowest
13% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$91,250±$38k
12% 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
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$280,400±$36kLowest
11% 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±$51Lowest
10% below VT
—
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
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
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,227
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±35.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
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%
9.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1975Lowest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
15% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
Work from home
13.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Windham 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
High school in town None in town — None in town
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.