Compare towns
Orange vs Richmond vs Williston 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 affordable homes ($222k median).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Richmond | Williston | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
4,159 |
10,144Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% 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% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Williston 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% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Richmond and Williston 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 |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Williston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Williston 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.