Compare towns
Wallingford vs Waltham vs Orleans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k 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 | Wallingford | Waltham | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 643 |
452Lowest |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±22.3 11% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
| Waltham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest 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%±7.4 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Orleans and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,714±$18k about the VT average |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
| Waltham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,000±$49k 25% below VT |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Waltham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $927±$140 25% below VT |
$1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
| Waltham and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,743 26% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±16.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Waltham and Orleans 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 15% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.