Compare towns
Whiting vs Worcester vs Middlesex vs Orleans
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).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
831 |
1,943Highest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Middlesex 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Orleans 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Whiting 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Orleans 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.