Compare towns
Orange vs Wells vs Windham vs Topsham
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 the most homeowners (93.4%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Topsham has the most kids (18% 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 | Windham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
1,148Highest |
594Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±5.9 16% 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Topsham and Windham 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Windham 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% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Windham 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±$42k 23% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
— | $908±$398Lowest 26% 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,006 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| 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.