Compare towns
Orange vs Brighton vs Walden vs Concord
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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Brighton | Walden | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,167Highest |
1,037 |
1,145 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
| Orange and Concord 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% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Concord 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% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Walden 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$73,304±$9k 10% below VT |
| Walden and Concord 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±$39k 48% below VT |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% 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 |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$1,111±$29 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Brighton School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.