Compare towns
Orleans vs Orwell 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).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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.
| Measure | Orleans | Orwell | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
1,294Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Orwell and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orwell 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Orwell 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 |
$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Orwell 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 |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Barton 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Orwell 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 |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.