Compare towns
Orwell vs Wolcott 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).
Wolcott has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Wolcott | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,507Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
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%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$22k 13% below VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Orwell 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 |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Orwell and Wolcott 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 |
$3,930 22% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Orwell 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 15% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Wolcott 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 | Wolcott School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.