The Town FilesWashington, Vermont
Town in Orange County · population 1,032 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $217,700
- Household income
- $66,103
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 89 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 52.9
Washington is a town of 1,032 people in Orange County, Vermont. The median home is worth $217,700, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks quieter than 100% of Vermont towns.
How Washington ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Washington is worth $217,700, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $66,103, which is more affordable than 70% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $996 a month. 94.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Washington | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $217,700 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $996 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $66,103 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 94.4% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.7% | — |
Who lives in Washington
| People | Washington | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.9 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.0% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.2% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.3% | 89.3% |
Weather in Washington
July highs average 76.2°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 88.8 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 16, 2026 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 21, 2010.
Severe weather in Orange County since 1996
Orange County has been included in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Orange County
Orange County had 7,898 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,315 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Washington itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Washington
1 public school with 128 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Village School | PK-4 | 128 | 16.0 |
Towns near Washington
- East Barre, VT5.2 mi · 811 people · home $195,700
- Graniteville, VT5.6 mi · 717 people · home —
- Chelsea, VT6.1 mi · 1,233 people · home $260,900
- Websterville, VT6.2 mi · 570 people · home $171,700
- Williamstown, VT6.4 mi · 3,515 people · home $234,900
- Williamstown, VT7.0 mi · 1,264 people · home $211,300
- South Barre, VT7.1 mi · 1,193 people · home $257,600
- Orange, VT7.3 mi · 1,048 people · home $222,000
Washington questions
Is Washington, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Washington scores better for retirees than 12% of Vermont towns and quieter than 100%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.9).
How much does a house cost in Washington?
The median owner-occupied home in Washington is valued at $217,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,103, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $996 a month.
What is the weather like in Washington?
July highs average 76.2°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 88.8 inches of snow.
Does Washington get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Washington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 16, 2026. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)