Orleans County

Orleans County, Vermont, has a population of approximately 27,037 as of the 2020 census. The racial makeup is predominantly White (about 96.7%), with small percentages of other races including Black or African American (0.6%), Native American (0.8%), and Asian (0.4%). The county also has a Hispanic or Latino population of around 1.3%. The median age is about 47 years, and the median household income is roughly $49,200. Approximately 14.2% of the population lives below the poverty line.

As of the latest data, Orleans County, VT has approximately 14,942 housing units. The median home value is around $160,000. Renter-occupied units constitute about 18% with a median gross rent of $790. Homeownership rate stands at nearly 82%. The vacancy rate is around 20%, reflecting seasonal property usage. The county has a mix of older and newer structures, with 37% of homes built before 1939 and recent development observed.

Orleans County, VT, participates in federal, state, and local elections. As of the 2022 general election, this county had a voter population of approximately 29,000 residents. Voter turnout in recent elections has varied, with around 70-75% participation in major election years.

Key races include the U.S. House of Representatives seat, where candidates often include both major party contenders and independent candidates. Local elections for state senate, house representatives, and county positions such as the Sheriff and State's Attorney are also significant.

In 2022, notable candidates included Democrat Peter Welch and Republican Gerald Malloy for the U.S. Senate seat, with Welch ultimately winning statewide.

Local legislative seats often see competition from a mix of Democratic, Republican, and Progressive Party candidates. Results and candidate lists can be found on the Vermont Secretary of State's website or Orleans County's local government pages closer to election dates.

As of the latest data, Orleans County, VT, has varying levels of educational attainment. Approximately 89.5% of residents aged 25 and older have completed high school, compared to the national average of around 88%. In terms of higher education, about 22.3% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which is below the Vermont state average of 38.3% and the national average of approximately 33.1%. These figures suggest that while high school completion rates in Orleans County are slightly above the national average, the county lags behind both state and national averages in terms of higher education attainment.

As of recent data, Orleans County, VT has an employment rate of approximately 60.4%, slightly below the national average of around 61.1%. The county's labor force consists of about 13,000 individuals. Key industries include healthcare and social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Notably, the healthcare sector employs around 16.2% of the workforce, manufacturing accounts for 15.8%, and retail trade comprises 12.6%.

Compared to Vermont's state averages, healthcare and social assistance is slightly higher in Orleans County (16.2% vs. 14.9% statewide), while manufacturing is also more prominent (15.8% vs. 10.9% statewide). Nationally, these trends align somewhat, as healthcare and retail are significant employment sectors, though manufacturing typically represents a smaller portion of employment compared to Orleans County.

Overall, Orleans County has a distinct emphasis on manufacturing and healthcare compared to state and national averages.

As of the latest data, the average household income in Orleans County, VT, is approximately $49,000 annually. This figure is lower than both the national and state averages. The national average household income stands around $68,700, while the state of Vermont's average is approximately $60,100. This disparity highlights the relatively lower income levels in Orleans County.

This comparison suggests that Orleans County lags behind both the state and national income averages, indicative of economic variances within the region.

Orleans County, Vermont, has a relatively low crime rate compared to national averages. According to data from the FBI's Crime Data Explorer for 2020:

The violent crime rate per 1,000 residents is approximately 1.1, and the property crime rate is about 3.3. These rates indicate a generally safe community with a focus on property-related offenses rather than violent crimes.