Compare towns
Ryegate vs Orwell vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
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 | Ryegate | Orwell | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059 |
1,294Highest |
967Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Orwell and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Groton 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 | — |
| High school 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.