Compare towns

Barnet vs Orange vs Walden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

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.

MeasureBarnetOrangeWalden
People
Population
1,855Highest
957Lowest
1,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
+2.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3Lowest
11% above VT
50.3±5.3Highest
17% above VT
48.8±3.2
13% above VT
Orange and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.6%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
14.3%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barnet and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.4%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
26.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
4%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Walden and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$71,302±$13k
12% below VT
$88,000±$15kHighest
8% above VT
Walden and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$247,900±$24kHighest
22% below VT
$222,000±$22kLowest
30% below VT
$238,900±$23k
25% below VT
Barnet and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$974±$72
21% below VT
$1,330±$153Highest
8% above VT
$900±$136Lowest
27% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,489Highest
11% below VT
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
$3,944
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
56.3%±86.8
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
7.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
93.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
28 minHighest
19% above VT
26 minLowest
10% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.5%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±6.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Walden and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
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

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.