Compare towns
Orwell vs Windham vs Mendon 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).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Windham | Mendon | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
594Lowest |
1,113 |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Mendon 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 |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Mendon and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Mendon and Windham 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 |
— | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Mendon 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Orwell 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Windham 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 History | None yet | 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.