Compare towns
Orange vs Halifax vs Walden
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Halifax | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
847Lowest |
1,037Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Orange and Walden 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Walden 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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±$13k 12% below VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden 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 |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Halifax and Walden 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Walden 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Walden 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 | Halifax School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.