Compare towns
Whiting vs Franklin 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 highest household income ($91k).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Franklin | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,590Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 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%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Whiting and Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Whiting 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 |
$891±$266Lowest 28% 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 | $4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Orwell 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | 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 |
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.