Compare towns
Whiting vs Williston vs Strafford 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 affordable homes ($280k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Williston | Strafford | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,372 |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Strafford 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 7% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Strafford School District | 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 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.