Compare towns
Orange vs Proctor vs Whitingham 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%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Proctor | Whitingham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,586Highest |
1,368 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above 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% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham and Proctor 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% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Proctor 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 |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Proctor 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 |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Whitingham and Wells 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 |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 | $3,545 30% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%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 |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
38 min 62% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | — | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.