Compare towns
Whiting vs Strafford vs Cornwall 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 most renters (34.6% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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 | Strafford | Cornwall | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,208 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Cornwall 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Cornwall 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.