Compare towns
Orange vs Sheldon vs Williamstown 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).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Sheldon | Williamstown | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,267 |
3,579Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.6% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Orwell 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 |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Williamstown and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
| Orwell and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
| Williamstown and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Orwell 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Orange 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
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| 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.