Compare towns
Whiting vs Castleton vs Panton 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 highest household income ($91k).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Castleton | Panton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
4,453Highest |
690 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.7±3.8Highest about the VT average |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Panton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Whiting 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% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Orleans 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Whiting and Panton 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Panton 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 |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Panton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | — |
| 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.