Compare towns
Orange vs Barre vs Washington vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Washington has the most kids (16.5% 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 | Orange | Barre | Washington | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,056 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Walden 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 VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$217,700±$37k 31% 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 | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Washington 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 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.