Compare towns

Orange vs Bennington vs Washington

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has the highest household income ($71k).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

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.

MeasureOrangeBenningtonWashington
People
Population
957Lowest
15,249Highest
1,056
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.3±5.3
17% above VT
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% above VT
52.9±5.1Highest
23% 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%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
Bennington and Washington 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%
25.2%±2.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Bennington and Washington 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%
36.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±2
VT: 7%
Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13kHighest
12% below VT
$59,446±$7kLowest
27% below VT
$66,103±$8k
19% below VT
Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22kHighest
30% below VT
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$217,700±$37k
31% below VT
Orange and Washington 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
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
$996±$285Lowest
19% below VT
Orange and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545
30% below VT
$4,513Highest
10% below VT
$3,485Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
34.5%±63.6
VT: 48.4%
Bennington 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%
13.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
19% above VT
17 minLowest
27% below VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
13.5%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
Bennington 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 — #58 of 70 in VT —
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school in town None in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
—
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.