Compare towns
Jay vs Orange vs Orwell vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Jay | Orange | Orwell | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471Lowest |
957 |
1,294Highest |
508 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Jay and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.