Compare towns
Orange vs Brandon vs Orwell
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 most affordable homes ($222k median).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Brandon | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
4,120Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
| Orange and Brandon 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% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Brandon 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% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Brandon 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% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Brandon 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 |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Orwell 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.