Compare towns
Orwell vs Windsor vs Putnam vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Windsor | Putnam | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294 |
3,554Highest |
540 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Windsor 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 25% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Orwell and Windsor 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.