Compare towns

Orange vs Cornwall vs Barre

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).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Barre has the shortest commute (23 min average).

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.

MeasureOrangeCornwallBarre
People
Population
957Lowest
1,208
8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
0%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.3±5.3
17% above VT
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
48.4±4.2Lowest
12% above VT
Cornwall and Orange 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%
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.3
VT: 17.9%
Cornwall and Barre 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%
25.7%±6.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Cornwall and Barre 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%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.2
VT: 7%
Cornwall and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13kLowest
12% below VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$93,210±$9k
15% above VT
Cornwall and Barre 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
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$281,400±$13k
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153
8% above VT
$1,125±$206Lowest
9% below VT
$1,524±$399Highest
24% above VT
Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$4,737
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.4%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
2.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
19% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
4% below VT
Work from home
13.5%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.7%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Barre 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 — — #19 of 70 in VT
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Barre Unified Union School District #97
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.