Compare towns
Washington vs Worcester 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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Worcester | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
831Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
| Worcester and Orange 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 |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
| Worcester and Orange 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Washington and Worcester 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 |
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.