Compare towns
Orange vs Ripton vs Sandgate 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 renters (12.2% rent).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Ripton | Sandgate | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
508 |
435Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Sandgate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Wells 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sandgate 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
— | — | $1,313±$282Lowest 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 | 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.