Compare towns
Orange vs Walden 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 most kids (15.6% under 18).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($271k median).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957 |
1,037Highest |
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 |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orange and Walden 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%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Walden 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Walden and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
| Worcester and Walden 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±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Worcester 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Walden 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 | 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.