Compare towns

Orwell vs Salisbury 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 the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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.

MeasureOrwellSalisburyOrange
People
Population
1,294Highest
1,200
957Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.9%
VT: +2.8%
+7.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.5±7Lowest
10% above VT
50.6±6.5Highest
17% above VT
50.3±5.3
17% above VT
Salisbury and Orange 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%
16.6%±3.2
VT: 17.9%
15.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Orwell and Salisbury 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%
30.4%±2.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
22.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
Orwell and Orange 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
$99,688±$21kHighest
23% above VT
$71,302±$13k
12% below VT
Salisbury 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
$306,900±$51k
3% below VT
$222,000±$22kLowest
30% below VT
Orwell and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,105±$51Lowest
10% below VT
$1,443±$984Highest
17% above VT
$1,330±$153
8% above VT
Salisbury and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,914
22% below VT
$4,842Highest
4% below VT
$3,545Lowest
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.1%±35.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.9%±22.6
VT: 48.4%
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Orwell and Salisbury 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%
4.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
15% above VT
19 minLowest
20% below VT
28 minHighest
19% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.2Lowest
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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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.