Compare towns

Whiting vs Brighton vs Cornwall 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).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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.

MeasureWhitingBrightonCornwallOrleans
People
Population
532Lowest
1,167
1,208Highest
809
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
41.7±5.8
3% below VT
Cornwall and Brighton 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%
18.3%±5.7
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3
VT: 17.9%
17.9%±4.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Cornwall 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%
27.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
19.7%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
Brighton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
24.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Whiting and Brighton 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
$47,375±$21kLowest
42% below VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$57,159±$10k
30% below VT
Cornwall 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
$163,900±$39k
48% below VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$156,300±$18kLowest
51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
$810±$94
34% below VT
Whiting and Cornwall 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
$3,360
33% below VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$3,019Lowest
40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
55%±17
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
27.3%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Whiting 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%
22%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%
VT: 73.2%
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
64.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
31 min
33% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
12.4%±8.1
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.3%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Brighton 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 Brighton School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
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 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.