Compare towns
Shoreham vs Northfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269Lowest |
5,920Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Shoreham and Northfield 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% 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 | $4,713 6% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Orwell 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.