Compare towns
Orange vs Windsor vs Wells vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most renters (48.4% rent).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Windsor | Wells | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,060Highest |
1,148 |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Wells 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% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Washington 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% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Wells 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% |
40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Wells and Washington 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 |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
| Wells and Orange 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 |
$1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$996±$285Lowest 19% 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,485 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Washington 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Washington 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.