Compare towns
Orwell vs Brookfield vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Orwell | Brookfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
1,486Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Orwell 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% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Brookfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Brookfield and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 15% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 |
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.