Compare towns
Whiting vs Orleans vs Orwell vs Athens
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).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
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 | Orleans | Orwell | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
809 |
1,294Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Orwell and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest 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% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Athens 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% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 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±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% 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 |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below 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 |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.