Compare towns
Wells River vs Sutton vs Whiting vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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 | Wells River | Sutton | Whiting | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 340Lowest |
790 |
532 |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Sutton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sutton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Whiting and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Whiting and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$336 27% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Whiting and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,154 18% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 43% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sutton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.