Compare towns
Shoreham vs Waterville 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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Waterville | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269 |
680Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Shoreham and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Shoreham and Waterville 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Shoreham and Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±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 | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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 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.