Compare towns
Whiting vs Orange vs Athens vs Stratton
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).
Orange has the most homeowners (87.8%).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k 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 | Orange | Athens | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
957Highest |
431Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Orange and Athens 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% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Orange 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Orange and Stratton 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Athens 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | — |
| High school 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.