Compare towns
Orange vs Appleton vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Barre has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Orange | Appleton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,360 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Orange and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$281,400±$13kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Barre and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Orange 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 | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Appleton Public Schools | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.