Compare towns
Orwell vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Hardwick | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294 |
2,965Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 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% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Hardwick 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% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Hardwick 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Hardwick 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±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Hardwick 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 15% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.