Compare towns
Orwell vs Walden 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 expensive homes ($336k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Walden | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
1,037 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange and Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Orange 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
26.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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 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.