Compare towns
Orange vs Springfield vs Washington vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Springfield | Washington | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,056 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Washington 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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield and Washington 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Springfield 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% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
31%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Washington 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 |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Orange 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
| Walden and Orange 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Orange and Washington 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.