Compare towns
Washington vs Worcester vs Orange vs Wells
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 most kids (16.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056 |
831Lowest |
957 |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest 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 |
50.7±5.2 18% 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% 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% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Wells 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±$18k 9% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wells and Worcester 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 |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Worcester and Wells 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 |
$1,313±$282 6% 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 |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%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% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 minLowest 19% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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.