Compare towns
Walden vs Concord vs Wells vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Orange has the most renters (12.2% rent).
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 | Walden | Concord | Wells | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,145 |
1,148Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 13% above VT |
49.8±6.6 16% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Wells and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.9%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Concord and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Concord and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$73,304±$9k 10% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$159,300±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$243,000±$42kHighest 23% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,111±$29 10% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,026Lowest 40% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±82.4 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.6% VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 10% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.7%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.