What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orleans has the most people working from home (8.3%).

Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orleans	Wallingford
People
Population	809Highest	643Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-1.4%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT	47.7±22.3Highest 11% above VT
	Wallingford and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%	15.2%±9.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans and Wallingford 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%	20.2%±7.4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Wallingford and Orleans 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%	23.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	3%±2.7Lowest VT: 7%
	Orleans and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT	$80,714±$18kHighest about the VT average
	Wallingford 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±$18kLowest 51% below VT	$239,000±$49kHighest 25% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT	$927±$140Highest 25% below VT
	Wallingford 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	$3,743Highest 26% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%	14.6%±16.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Orleans and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	57.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 38 yrs older than VT	1938 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 33% above VT	20 minLowest 15% below VT
Work from home	8.3%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%	5.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Orleans and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.