Orange is a rural Vermont community that offers spacious country living
Orange is a sparsely populated town in north-central Vermont about 13 miles southeast of Montpelier, the state capital. The community spans nearly 40 square miles, but its population is only about 1,000. Orange features a bucolic, wooded setting known for its vibrant fall foliage, which attracts an abundance of “leaf peepers” who flock to the area in early October. In 2018, officials reiterated their commitment to retain the community’s “rural character” amid encroaching regional growth; one of the area’s major appeals for residents is that sense of removal from larger metropolitan areas. That said, the area’s proximity to other towns affords the opportunities for shopping, dining and other entertainment to be found in those urban centers. “If someone wants to be on a little more land out in the country, this is where they want to be,” says Michelle Gosselin of Heney Realtors, who sells homes throughout the region. “It’s a pretty desirable area on the outskirts of Barre, which is where everything is.”
Diverse housing options offer space and privacy
The community features 19th-century farmhouse-style homes mixed with ranch-style, Colonial Revival and custom homes, including log-cabin designs. However, potential homebuyers need to be aware that, despite this variety of styles, housing stock is not plentiful in the area; according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Orange has fewer than 500 houses in total within the town’s borders. Many homes are set back from the road and come with significant acreage. The largest concentration of homes can be found in the community’s northwest corner, close to Barre. Prices typically range from the low $200,000s to the high $400,000s. While homeowners get to enjoy mild summers and colorful falls, they need to be prepared for the region’s cold, snowy winters. “We don’t get a ton of snow, like Buffalo,” Gosselin says. “We might get a couple of feet. Last year, we had a fairly tough winter. The year before, though, it was not bad at all. It’s very erratic from year to year.” There’s also mud season in Vermont, the time in the spring when the snow melts and dirt roads become harder to traverse.
Outdoor recreation is popular in rural Vermont
Residents can take advantage of the natural landscape throughout the year. In the winter, Orange and surrounding communities are home to a network of snowmobiling trails. Clubs affiliated with the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers organize rides. During the warmer months, the Waits River, which runs through the east side of Orange, is a popular spot for trout fishing. The neighboring town of Groton features seven state parks nestled among several waterways. Lake Groton is a haven for boaters, watercraft enthusiasts and anglers. The neighboring Town of Barre is home to a sprawling recreation area and athletic complex. Featured amenities at the complex include ballfields, courts for tennis and pickleball and a skate park and a dog park. Playgrounds and bike paths offer additional recreation throughout Barre.
Restaurants, bars, shopping options found in nearby Barre
The rurality of Orange that attracts residents is reflected in the lack of commercial entities within the town, so those who live here typically drive to Barre for shopping. East Barre Antique Mall and Vermont Flannel Factory Store offer an eclectic mix of shopping options just west of the community. More shopping and dining options are concentrated along U.S. Route 302, known locally as William Scott Memorial Highway, heading west into the heart of Barre. “You’ve got your downtown restaurants and bars, and that’s where you’d go if you want to go shopping,” Gosselin says. Highly rated dining destinations in Barre include The Meltdown Grilled Cheese and Taproom, Morse Block Deli & Taps, and Pearl Street Pizza.
Students are served by the Echo Valley Community School District
Students are served by the Echo Valley Community School District, which consists of only two schools and earns a C from Niche. Washington Village School, in the neighboring town, is the district’s elementary school, and Orange Center School, located in the heart of the community, serves students in fifth through eighth grades. Niche gives Washington Village a B and Orange Center a D-plus. Orange is a school choice town for high school, so students can attend any Vermont public high school or Vermont Agency of Education-approved independent school. The Echo Valley district picks up the bulk of the cost for any associated tuitions.
Route 302 provides access to Barre, other nearby cities
The community is car dependent, but Route 302 provides a direct route into Barre and a relatively quick trip to Central Vermont Medical Center, about 10 miles away. “You have pretty good access to everywhere,” Gosselin says. Residents can pick up Interstate 89 near Montpelier for travel into Burlington, the largest city in the region and home to the Patrick Leahy International Airport, about 50 miles away. Route 302 connects to I-91 about 20 miles away at the Vermont-New Hampshire border.
The community's CAP Index score of 1-out-of-10 signifies an area with the lowest possible crime rate.
Written By
Matt Pallister
