Compare towns
Whiting vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh 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).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Sheldon | Enosburgh | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
2,267 |
2,804Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Enosburgh 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
| Whiting and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% 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±$519 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.