Compare towns
Orange vs Strafford 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 affordable homes ($222k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Strafford | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Strafford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Orange 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 | Strafford School District | 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 |
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.