Compare towns
Braintree 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
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Orange has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Orange | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
957Lowest |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest 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 | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
| Walden and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.