Compare towns
Orange vs Orwell vs Sheldon
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).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Orwell | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,294 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Orange and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Orange 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% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Orwell 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.