Compare towns
Orange vs Castleton vs Walden vs Topsham
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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Castleton | Walden | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,037 |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Orange and Topsham 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% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Topsham 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Castleton 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Walden and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Walden and Castleton 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Orange and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Topsham 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.