Compare towns
Whiting vs Fairfax 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 most renters (34.6% rent).
Fairfax has the most people working from home (26.7%).
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 | Fairfax | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
5,226Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
| Orwell and Whiting 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Fairfax 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 |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Fairfax 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±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Fairfax and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Whiting and Orwell 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 |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #36 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Fairfax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.