Compare towns
Washington vs Bennington vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Orange has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Washington | Bennington | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
15,249Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
| Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 31% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$222,000±$22kHighest 30% below VT |
| Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— |
| 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.