Compare towns
Middlesex 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
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Orange | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Highest |
957Lowest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Middlesex and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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.