Compare towns

Orange vs Elmore 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 people working from home (13.5%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% 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.

MeasureOrangeElmoreWells
People
Population
957Lowest
964
1,148Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.3±5.3
17% above VT
45±3.5Lowest
4% above VT
50.7±5.2Highest
18% above VT
Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
23.4%±9.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Elmore and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4
VT: 21.4%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.5%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wells and Orange 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%
47.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
29.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Wells and Orange 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
$98,750±$24kHighest
22% above VT
$75,417±$11k
7% below VT
Elmore and Wells 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
$315,800±$47kHighest
about the VT average
$243,000±$42k
23% below VT
Elmore and Wells 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
$1,225±$263Lowest
about the VT average
$1,313±$282
6% above VT
Orange and Wells 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
$5,066Highest
about the VT average
$3,308Lowest
34% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
31.8%±65.8
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wells and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
VT: 10.1%
3.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.8%
VT: 73.2%
93.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1977Lowest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
19% above VT
29 min
25% above VT
48 minHighest
102% above VT
Work from home
13.5%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2
VT: 16.9%
Orange and Wells 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 Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 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 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.