Compare towns
Washington vs Windham 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
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Wells has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Windham | Wells | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
594Lowest |
1,148Highest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Washington and Wells 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Wells 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±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Windham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% 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 | $3,485 31% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.