Compare towns
Coventry vs Orwell vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Coventry has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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.
| Measure | Coventry | Orwell | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 917 |
1,294Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.2Lowest 5% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Coventry and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,342±$3kLowest 27% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
| Jay and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,900±$55kLowest 37% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $755±$108Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,375Lowest 53% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 1.5%±27.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Coventry School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.