Compare towns
Orwell vs Orleans 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%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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 | Orleans | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
809Lowest |
957 |
| 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 |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below 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% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest 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%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest 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±$22k 13% below VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Orange and Orwell 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 |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 15% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.