Compare towns
Jay vs Orange vs Orwell vs Sandgate
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 highest household income ($75k).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 471 |
957 |
1,294Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
47.5±7Lowest 10% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Jay 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Jay and Orange 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±$22k 30% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 29% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% 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 |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Jay 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 | — |
| High school 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.