Compare towns
Underhill vs Orwell vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Orwell has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Underhill | Orwell | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,141Highest |
1,294Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Orwell and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$335,600±$25kLowest 6% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Underhill and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Westford 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.