What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).

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	Wells River
People
Population	809Highest	340Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.7% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT	42.7±12.7Highest about the VT average
	Wells River 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%	17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4%	19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Orleans and Wells River 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%	16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Orleans and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,159±$10kHighest 30% below VT	$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT	$170,800±$103kHighest 46% below VT
	Wells River and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT	$900±$336Highest 27% below VT
	Wells River 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	$4,154Highest 18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.6%±14.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Wells River and Orleans 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%	38.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	47.9%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 minLowest 33% above VT	34 minHighest 43% above VT
Work from home	8.3%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%	5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Orleans and Wells River 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.