1st Advantage MortgageAbout 80% of Orleans County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $70,103. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Orleans County
- Renting and owning in Orleans County
- Income in Orleans County compared with Vermont
- Employment and commuting in Orleans County
- Counties near Orleans County
- Orleans County towns compared
- People and households in Orleans County
- What the numbers mean for Orleans County borrowers
- Room for a loan payment in Orleans County
- Who licenses lenders for Orleans County residents
- Four steps for Orleans County borrowers
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Orleans County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Orleans County's population at 27,606; only 10 of Vermont's 14 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 695 square miles, that works out to roughly 39.7 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Derby is the biggest of its 24 Census places, at roughly 4,537 people (16% of the county total).
Renting and owning in Orleans County
A typical Orleans County rental runs $892 a month including utilities, which is 28% below Vermont. 43% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 25% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $223,400, about 3.2 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 80%. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | Orleans County | Vermont | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $892/mo | $1,234/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $223,400 | $316,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 48% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 29% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% | 5.9% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 28% | 19% | n/a |
Because most Orleans County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Income in Orleans County compared with Vermont
Orleans County households have a median income of $70,103 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 11th of 14 in Vermont.
| Income band | Share in Orleans County | Difference from Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.8% | +2.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.2% | +4.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.0% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.1% | -4.0 pts |
Some 23% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 33% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 11.7% of Orleans County residents in poverty, against 10.1% across Vermont. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.440 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $70,103 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Orleans County
Education and health care employs 28% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 10%. Compared with Vermont, the county leans toward public administration (8% against 5%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 74% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 6.4% of the total (6.2% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Orleans County | Gap to Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.2% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -0.6 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.1% | -0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.9% | +3.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Counties near Orleans County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 47 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Orleans County; Chittenden County is highest at $96,759 and Essex County lowest at $59,294.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orleans County | - | $70,103 | $892/mo | 80% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 24 mi | $74,908 | $1,160/mo | 73% |
| Caledonia County, VT | 26 mi | $69,970 | $920/mo | 79% |
| Essex County, VT | 26 mi | $59,294 | $827/mo | 82% |
| Franklin County, VT | 32 mi | $81,313 | $1,180/mo | 77% |
| Washington County, VT | 42 mi | $83,449 | $1,163/mo | 74% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 47 mi | $96,759 | $1,646/mo | 64% |
Orleans County towns compared
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 24 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 75% of Orleans County residents live in one of the 24. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $40,833 in Barton to $91,250 in Morgan. Rent is cheapest in North Troy ($597) and steepest in Holland ($1,330). This guide covers each of the 24 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derby | town | 4,537 | $80,250 | $1,096 | 10 mi |
| Newport | city | 4,394 | $54,646 | $850 | 8 mi |
| Craftsbury | town | 1,352 | $83,672 | $1,091 | 14 mi |
| Brownington | town | 1,144 | $75,556 | $745 | 6 mi |
| Charleston | town | 936 | $49,286 | $979 | 11 mi |
| Morgan | town | 827 | $91,250 | $1,112 | 16 mi |
| Orleans | village | 809 | $57,159 | $810 | 3 mi |
| Holland | town | 790 | $60,729 | $1,330 | 16 mi |
| Derby Line | village | 783 | $71,518 | $835 | 14 mi |
| Barton | village | 730 | $40,833 | $761 | 7 mi |
| Derby Center | village | 693 | $58,250 | $1,078 | 10 mi |
| Westfield | town | 536 | $72,500 | $863 | 12 mi |
| North Troy | village | 506 | $50,417 | $597 | 14 mi |
| Jay | town | 471 | $74,792 | n/a | 15 mi |
People and households in Orleans County
30% of Orleans County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Orleans County | All of Vermont | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 43.1 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.5% | 43.8% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.8% | 5.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.4% | 3.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.4% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 16.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 10.1% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 13.1% |
What the numbers mean for Orleans County borrowers
What the Orleans County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Commuter costs. 18% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Older households. A 45.7 median age means fixed-income borrowing is common; a fixed payment and short term limit risk.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Room for a loan payment in Orleans County
Here is the Orleans County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,842 gross per month ($70,103 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $892 uses 15%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,211 left for all other debt payments
- $1,620: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Who licenses lenders for Orleans County residents
Orleans County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Vermont guide.
Four steps for Orleans County borrowers
A short checklist for Orleans County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Vermont license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Vermont guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Orleans County?
$70,103 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $81,203 for Vermont. It ranks 11th of 14 in the state.
What do renters pay in Orleans County?
$892 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Orleans County?
By population: Derby, Newport, Craftsbury, Brownington, Charleston. The county has 24 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Orleans County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Orleans County residents?
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Vermont; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.