Compare towns
Orange vs Stratton vs Wells 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 most affordable homes ($222k median).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
Orwell has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Stratton | Wells | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
532Lowest |
1,148 |
1,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.5±7 10% 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Orwell 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% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Orwell 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±$13k 12% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
| Stratton and Orwell 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below 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 |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 | 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.