Compare towns
Berlin vs Orange vs Wells
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 people working from home (13.5%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
957Lowest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Wells and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Orange 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Wells 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±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Berlin and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Berlin and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Orange and Wells 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 |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Berlin 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.