Photo: Jessamyn West · CC BY-SA 2.5In Orwell, 77% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Vermont
Orwell’s town government spent $1 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, about $840 per resident. That is its newest year reported to the Census Bureau.
What stands out about how Orwell is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
Slate Valley Unified Union School District 62
Orwell’s K–12 school district, shared with Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, West Haven. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $26,281 per pupil, $13,301 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
About $840 per resident a year, or $2.30 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 52%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
No comparison or trend for Orwell yet
The fair comparison uses 2022, the last year the Census Bureau counted every government (later years are a sample), and Orwell’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate (it reported none of its 2022 dollars). It reported 2023 only (2022 and 2024 are estimates), so there is no trend yet either. The next full count is 2027.
How Town Hall compares budgets →The typical homeowner pays $3,914 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.17% of the home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Orwell’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Orwell’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Orwell →
Most Vermont towns vote on March 2, 2027
Check Orwell’s own dates: some towns hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2).
Orwell’s meetings aren’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on its website.
Town website ↗Vermont’s Town Meeting Day is the first Tuesday in March, when towns vote on budgets and elect officers.
Some towns hold the business session on another day, and some vote by ballot (SB2). Check Orwell’s site for its warrant and dates.
Who’s in charge in Orwell
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 310 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2023 finance file (1,241).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
How Orwell voted in 2024
Official results for Orwell’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat51.6%399 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican44.9%347 votesOthers: 3.5% (27 votes).
Most votes in Orwell: Kamala D Harris
Addison County: Harris 65.8%, Trump 30.3% · Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%
of Orwell’s 1,007 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Vermont: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Orwell: Bernie Sanders
Addison County: Sanders 64.5%, Malloy 31.5% · Vermont: Sanders 63.2%, Malloy 32.1%
Most votes in Orwell: Phil Scott
Addison County: Scott 72.6%, Charlestin 24.1% · Vermont: Scott 73.4%, Charlestin 21.8%
Most votes in the district: Becca Balint
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Orwell, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orwell | 51.6% | 44.9% | 3.5% | 773 |
| Addison County | 65.8% | 30.3% | 3.9% | 22,607 |
| Vermont | 63.8% | 32.3% | 3.9% | 369,422 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Orwell.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: townoforwellvt.org ↗
- 2Vermont HouseState representatives
- 3Vermont SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Vermont
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Orwell compares with the towns next door
Orwell’s 2022 figures are a Census estimate, so it isn’t placed among them. Neighbors that reported 2022 spent $503 to $990 per resident. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Orwell’s government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Orwell’s government
How much does Orwell spend per resident?
About $840 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2023, as reported to the Census Bureau.
What is the property tax rate in Orwell?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,914 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.17% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see townoforwellvt.org.
Who runs Orwell’s government?
See townoforwellvt.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Orwell yet.
How did Orwell vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 51.6%, Donald J Trump 44.9% (773 votes, official results). Addison County: Harris 65.8%, Trump 30.3%. Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%.
How many people work for Orwell?
4 full-time and 49 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $31,700 (about $380,400 a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.
Who represents Orwell in the state legislature?
State Senate District Addison (Ruth Hardy and Steven Heffernan) and State House District Addison-Rutland (Jim Casey). The House district also covers four other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
When is town meeting in Orwell?
Most Vermont towns vote on the first Tuesday in March (March 2, 2027). Some hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2), so check townoforwellvt.org for Orwell’s own dates.
Ask neighbors about Orwell’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →