Compare towns
Orange vs Benson vs Wells vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
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 | Benson | Wells | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
784Lowest |
1,148Highest |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
49.8±6.6Lowest 16% above VT |
| Benson and Wells 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% |
16.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Benson and Concord 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% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Concord and Benson 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% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$73,304±$9k 10% below VT |
| Benson and Wells 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Wells and Benson 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 |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,111±$29Lowest 10% below VT |
| Orange and Wells 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 |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Benson 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 minLowest 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.