What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

Orange has the most people working from home (13.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stratton	Orange
People
Population	532Lowest	957Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.2% VT: +2.8%
Median age	31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT	50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT
Kids under 18	28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9%	15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%	19.4%±4Highest VT: 21.4%
	Orange and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7%	2.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	Orange and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT	$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT	$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average	$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT
	Orange and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Highest 6% below VT	$3,545Lowest 30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12%±69.8Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Stratton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%	7.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	87.8%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 39% above VT	28 minLowest 19% above VT
Work from home	3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district	—	Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.