Compare towns
Whiting vs Stratton vs Ira 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Orwell has the most people working from home (13.3%).
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 | Stratton | Ira | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
532 |
381Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | — | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Ira and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Stratton and Orwell 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Whiting 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 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.