Compare towns
Whiting vs Wells 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).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Wells | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
1,148 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Lowest 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±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Whiting and Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Wells 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Orwell 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orwell and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.