Compare towns
Ryegate vs Orwell vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k 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 | Ryegate | Orwell | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059 |
1,294Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
47.5±7 10% above 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 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% 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 | $219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 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.