Compare towns

Orange vs Springfield vs Wells

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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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.

MeasureOrangeSpringfieldWells
People
Population
957Lowest
9,084Highest
1,148
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.3±5.3
17% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
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%
18.6%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Springfield and Orange 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%
24.5%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wells 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%
29.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Wells 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±$13k
12% below VT
$66,571±$13kLowest
18% below VT
$75,417±$11kHighest
7% below VT
Wells 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
$243,000±$42kHighest
23% below VT
Wells 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±$100Lowest
22% below VT
$1,313±$282
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
$4,807Highest
5% below VT
$3,308Lowest
34% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.6%±15.6
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Wells and Springfield 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%
14.8%
VT: 10.1%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
19% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
48 minHighest
102% above VT
Work from home
13.5%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Springfield 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 — #64 of 70 in VT —
School district Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None in town Springfield High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3
—
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.