Compare towns
Berlin vs Orange vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Orange | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
957Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Berlin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Berlin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Orange and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Orwell 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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 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.