Compare towns

Orleans vs Ira vs Barton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).

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.

MeasureOrleansIraBarton
People
Population
809Highest
381Lowest
730
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.7±5.8
3% below VT
54.1±5.5Highest
26% above VT
40±5.5Lowest
7% below VT
Kids under 18
17.9%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.1%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.9%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.8%
VT: 43.8%
37.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±3.5
VT: 7%
1.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Orleans and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,159±$10k
30% below VT
$71,827±$5kHighest
12% below VT
$40,833±$8kLowest
50% below VT
Ira and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$156,300±$18k
51% below VT
$272,900±$18kHighest
14% below VT
$146,900±$30kLowest
54% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$810±$94
34% below VT
$942±$52Highest
24% below VT
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
Ira and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,019Lowest
40% below VT
$4,146Highest
18% below VT
$3,185
37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27.3%±17.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
58.8%±18.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Barton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%
VT: 10.1%
25.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.1%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
52.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1945
31 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
33% above VT
28 minLowest
20% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
Work from home
8.3%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.5%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Barton and Orleans 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 — — #38 of 70 in VT
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.