Compare towns
Shoreham vs Ira vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Shoreham | Ira | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269 |
381Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Ira and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Shoreham and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,713Highest 6% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.