Compare towns
Pawlet vs Orwell vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% 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 | Pawlet | Orwell | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,480Highest |
1,294Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above VT |
| Pawlet and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below VT |
| Whitingham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Pawlet and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924 22% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 40% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.