Compare towns
Orange vs Chelsea vs Wells
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).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Chelsea | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,223Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Chelsea 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% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Orange 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% |
29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chelsea and Wells 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% |
29.6% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Chelsea 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±$13k 12% below VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Orange 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 |
$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Chelsea and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
$1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
| Chelsea and Orange 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 |
$3,762Highest 25% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Wells 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% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Chelsea 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.