Compare towns
Chelsea vs Orange vs Shoreham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Shoreham has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Orange | Shoreham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223 |
957Lowest |
1,269Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
51.8±7.2 20% above VT |
| Chelsea and Shoreham 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Shoreham 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Shoreham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$93,654±$23kHighest 15% above VT |
| Shoreham 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±$39k 18% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$316,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Shoreham and Chelsea 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 |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,306±$335Lowest 6% 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 | $3,762 25% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,713Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±48.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Shoreham 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% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shoreham and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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.