Compare towns
Whiting vs Dummerston vs Athens vs Orwell
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 youngest population (median age 39.6).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Dummerston | Athens | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
2,090Highest |
431Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
| Orwell 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Orwell 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Athens 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.