Compare towns
Waterville vs Orange vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Orange has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).
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 | Waterville | Orange | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680 |
7,573Highest |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orange and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$239,200±$51k 28% below U.S. |
| Orange and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Belvidere and Waterville 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 | — | #275 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.