Compare towns
Orange vs Orleans 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%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Orleans | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
809Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below 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% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans 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% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Orleans 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% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Wells 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 |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells 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±$22k 30% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
| Wells and Orange 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 |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$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 | $3,545Highest 30% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Orleans 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.