Compare towns
Sudbury vs Castleton vs Orwell vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sudbury has the highest household income ($100k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
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 | Sudbury | Castleton | Orwell | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 679 |
4,453Highest |
1,294 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.4±4.9 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Orwell and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±7.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Sudbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,208±$33kHighest 23% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Sudbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$49kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Sudbury and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,205 17% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 50 minHighest 113% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.2%±9.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Sudbury 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 10 photos → | 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.