What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).

Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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.

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

Measure	Orwell	Orleans
People
Population	1,294Highest	809Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.5±7Highest 10% above VT	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% 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	21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%	17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Orwell and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%	19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Orwell and Orleans 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%	24.8%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Highest 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	$70,417±$22kHighest 13% below VT	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% 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	$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Highest 22% below VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Orwell and Orleans 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%	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 15% above VT	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	13.3%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Orwell and Orleans 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.