Compare towns
Orange vs Williamstown vs Wells
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).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Williamstown | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% 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% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 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 |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below 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 |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,313±$282Lowest 6% 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 |
$3,841Highest 24% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.