Compare towns
Orange vs Walden vs Whitingham vs Groton
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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Groton has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Walden | Whitingham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,037 |
1,368Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Orange and Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
| Walden and Groton 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
| Whitingham and Groton 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 |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$673±$150 45% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,659 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.