Compare towns
Whiting vs Athens vs Salisbury vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
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 | Whiting | Athens | Salisbury | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
431Lowest |
1,200Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Salisbury and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 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+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Salisbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Salisbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Salisbury and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 16% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.