Compare towns
Orange vs Orwell vs Topsham
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 the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,294Highest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Orange and Topsham 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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Topsham 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Topsham 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±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 |
$72,308±$60kHighest 11% below VT |
| Topsham 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 |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Orwell 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.