Compare towns
Shoreham vs Strafford 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 most renters (19.1% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Orwell has the youngest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Strafford | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Shoreham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Orwell 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Strafford and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $316,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Shoreham and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Shoreham 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 | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.