What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).

Orleans has the most people working from home (8.3%).

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.

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

Measure	Wallingford	Orleans
People
Population	643Lowest	809Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.7±22.3Highest 11% above VT	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT
	Wallingford and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±9.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.2%±7.4Highest VT: 21.4%	19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Wallingford and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	24.8%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.7Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Orleans and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,714±$18kHighest about the VT average	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT
	Wallingford and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$239,000±$49kHighest 25% below VT	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$927±$140Highest 25% below VT	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT
	Wallingford and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,743Highest 26% below VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.6%±16.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Orleans and Wallingford 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%	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 38 yrs older than VT	1938 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 15% below VT	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	5.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Orleans and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.