Compare towns
Whiting vs Norwich vs Orleans
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).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Norwich | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
3,640Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT |
| Orleans and Norwich 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%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Whiting 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% |
16%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orleans and Norwich 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% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Norwich 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 |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Norwich 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 |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Norwich 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Norwich 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Norwich School District | — |
| High school 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.