Compare towns
Orange vs Wells vs Williamstown
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Wells | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,148 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Orange 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Wells 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 |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Wells and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,313±$282Lowest 6% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Orange 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,841Highest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.