Compare towns
Orange vs Topsham vs Worcester
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Topsham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
999Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
| Orange and Topsham 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%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham 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% |
23.2%±4.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Topsham and Worcester 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
| Worcester and Topsham 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 |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
| Worcester and Topsham 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 |
$908±$398Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.