Compare towns
Orange vs Orange vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Orange | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
7,573 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
| Orange and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre 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 U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$281,400±$13kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 14% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Orange 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.