Compare towns
Whiting vs Middlesex vs Orwell vs Hancock
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k 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 | Middlesex | Orwell | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
1,943Highest |
1,294 |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
| Orwell and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
| Middlesex and Orwell 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.