What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).

Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Winhall	Orleans
People
Population	752Lowest	809Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	48.9±6.1Highest 13% above VT	41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below VT
	Winhall and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±6.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	17.9%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Orleans and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±5.3Highest VT: 21.4%	19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Winhall and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±4Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Orleans and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,500±$23kHighest 18% above VT	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,094±$732Highest 11% below VT	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT
	Winhall and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,567Highest 30% above VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.5%±38.9Highest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Winhall and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 13% above VT	31 minHighest 33% above VT
Work from home	18.4%±9Highest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Winhall and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.