Compare towns
Chelsea vs Concord vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).
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 | Chelsea | Concord | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223Highest |
1,145 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
49.8±6.6Lowest 16% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Chelsea and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$73,304±$9kHighest 10% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Concord and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Chelsea and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,111±$29Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
| Chelsea and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Highest 25% below VT |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.