Compare towns
Windham vs Orleans vs Worcester vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Windham | Orleans | Worcester | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
809 |
831 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $810±$94Lowest 34% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 33% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.