Compare towns
Orange vs Brighton 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 oldest population (median age 50.3).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Brighton | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,167 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
| Orange and Orwell 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% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Orwell 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% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Orwell 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% 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±$22k 30% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Brighton 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Brighton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.