Compare towns
Whiting vs Johnson 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).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Johnson | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
3,450Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% 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% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Johnson 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% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
| Whiting and Orwell 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 |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% 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 |
$948±$45Lowest 23% 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 |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Lowest 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% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Whiting 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 | — | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.