Compare towns
Orange vs Sheffield vs Orwell
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 oldest population (median age 50.3).
Sheffield has the most kids (34.7% under 18).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
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 | Sheffield | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
190Lowest |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
32.5±2.3Lowest 25% below VT |
47.5±7 10% above 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% |
34.7%±13.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% |
13.2%±14Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest 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% |
16.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±5.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest 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±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$65,795±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
| Orange and Orwell 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 |
$122,700±$70kLowest 61% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,219±$563 about the VT average |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Orange and Sheffield 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 |
$1,714Lowest 66% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Sheffield 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% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 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 |
| High school 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.