Compare towns
Orange vs Mendon vs Wells vs Coventry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
Coventry has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
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 | Mendon | Wells | Coventry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
1,113 |
1,148Highest |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
45.2±5.2Lowest 5% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Coventry 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%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Coventry and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$59,342±$3kLowest 27% below VT |
| Mendon 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±$22k 30% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$197,900±$55kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$755±$108Lowest 39% below 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,375Lowest 53% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
1.5%±27.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
19.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
36 min 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Orange 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Coventry School District |
| 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 | 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.