Compare towns
Whiting vs Springfield vs Orwell vs Shoreham
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Shoreham has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
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 | Springfield | Orwell | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,294 |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Lowest 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shoreham and Orwell 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% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Orwell 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Orwell and Shoreham 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
| Shoreham 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,713 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.